The funds are designed to facilitate “transit-oriented development” (TOD) projects to promote economic development by connecting transportation to housing and employment centers.

The Meriden grant will provide funding for market analysis, financial planning, environmental benefit analyses and preparation for studies and surveys of the Hub area near Meriden’s train station and related to the New Haven-Springfield rail line project.

 “This funding provides what Meriden needs to solicit the interest of private developers in the Transit Center project,” Speaker Donovan said. “The New Haven-Springfield rail project will drive job growth and economic development all along the route, and Meriden’s station is particularly important. Station improvements and development of the area will surely revitalize Meriden’s downtown and the city’s economy.”

Meriden Mayor Michael S. Rohde said, “Speaker Donovan, in conjunction with the Governor’s office, has delivered timely resources for our downtown redevelopment, ensuring we’re on track and that it will be successfully completed.”

“I welcome this news with enthusiasm because it takes us a step closer to alleviating congestion on our major highways which adversely affect our local and regional businesses as well as commuters,” Rep. Abercrombie stated. “Transit-oriented development benefits Meriden and the state on many levels including fueling much needed economic activity.”

“We have been concentrating efforts on spurring economic development in this tough economy and this funding is a welcomed boost to the revitalization of downtown Meriden,” Rep. Altotbello said.

“As health care costs have grown, small businesses have had to drop and cut coverage or sacrifice job growth,” Speaker Donovan said. “Some can’t attract and retain talented employees because quality health insurance is unaffordable. We need to determine how to make health insurance for small businesses affordable, but also easily comparable, available, accessible, and meaningful.”

Speaker Donovan has assembled the Working Group on Small Business Health Care, comprised of small businesses and legislators, to examine obstacles and opportunities for small business owners seeking to purchase health insurance coverage for their employees and their own families. The group will be led by State Rep. Robert Megna, chair of the Insurance Committee.

The Speaker has charged the working group with reviewing small group insurance regulations, the market’s current offerings, the barriers that small business owners face when attempting to secure quality affordable health coverage, the impact of health insurance access on job growth in this sector, and alternative health insurance models. The group will assemble a set of legislative recommendations on how best to address the health insurance needs of the small business workforce.

Rep. Megna said, “As a small business owner and longtime advocate for quality, affordable health care, I am excited to partner with other business leaders to identify solutions to ever-rising health insurance costs. Health care costs are a major hurdle to job growth, and I’m honored that Speaker Donovan has chosen me to chair this important working group at a time when we are looking to our small businesses to lead our economic recovery.”

Members of Speaker Donovan’s Small Business Health Care Working Group include:

Legislative Members:

Small Business Members:

Charles Beyer, Beyer Precision, LLC. Charles Beyer is the president of Beyer Precision, LLC., a screw-machine manufacturing company located in Wolcott, CT.

Michael V. Brown, New Standard Institute. Michael V. Brown is the President of New Standard Institute of Milford, a training and consulting firm specializing in industrial maintenance.

Richard Carbray, Apex Pharmacy. Richard Carbray is the co-owner of two independent pharmacies, Apex Pharmacy and Home Health Center and Annex Pharmacy, both in Hamden.

Brenda Cerezo, Cerezo New Image Salon. Brenda Cerezo has owned Cerezo New Image Salon in Stamford for sixteen years. She is also a co-founder and former president of the Connecticut Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Jennifer Clark, Realtor, First Choice Realty. Jennifer Clark became a REALTOR®  ten years ago after working in the technical branch of banking for 18 years. She has also been a stained glass artisan for 34 years and currently operates Willimantic Art Glass Studio.

Attorney Chris Donohue, Riefberg, Smart, Donohue and NeJame, PC. Christopher T. Donohue, is a partner in the Danbury, Connecticut law firm of Riefberg, Smart, Donohue & NeJame, PC.

Kevin Galvin, Connecticut Commercial Maintenance. Kevin Galvin has been a small business owner for thirty years. He owns Connecticut Commercial Maintenance, Inc., a Hartford-based service company with four employees.

Jerry Hardison, West End Eye Care. Dr. Jerry Hardison has been an owner/member of West End Eye Care, LLC in Hartford since 1978.

Carolyn Malon, Family Dental Care of Farmington. Dr. Carolyn Malon is a private practice dentist, in partnership with her husband, Stephen Moran at Family Dental Care of Farmington.

Séan Moore, Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce. Séan W. Moore has served as president of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce since 1998.

John Pakutka, Cresent Group Consulting. John Pakutka is Managing Director of The Crescent Group, an advisory services firm with expertise in health policy, politics, litigation, and management.

John Seiffer, Better CEO. John Seiffer has been an entrepreneur for over 30 years. He has coached business owners since 1994 and became president of the International Coach Federation in 1998 and began consulting with entrepreneurs in 1999.

Linda St. Peter, Realtor. Linda St. Peter is the Broker/Owner of IBIS Consortium - Commercial & Investment Real Estate in Rocky Hill, Connecticut and an international speaker, instructor, and facilitator with Dynamic Directions, Inc.

Angel Reyes, Check Cashing and More. Angel Reyes has owned and operated Check Cashing and More in Bridgeport for over 10 years.

Lesley Waldron, IPS Limited & IPS Physician Services. Lesley Waldron is the owner of IPS Physician Services and owner/president of IPS Limited, two Bethlehem, Connecticut-based businesses.

Cornell Wright, Parker Wright Group. Cornell N. Wright is the principal of the Parker Wright Group, Inc., a management consulting practice, located in Stratford, CT, that specializes in--customer service, SWOT analysis, organizational assessments, strategy development and non profit board development.

According to the CCADV, Speaker Donovan is being honored along with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs for “outstanding achievements toward assisting victims of domestic violence.” He will receive the “Coalition Crusader” honor for his work to establish the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence. Over the past two years, the task force is responsible for strengthening Connecticut laws to help victims.

Speaker Donovan also is being recognized as a “First 100” honoree by CCADV, one of 100 men across Connecticut who have made a commitment to ending domestic violence in the state.

“I started the task force because I believe we owe victims of domestic violence answers and solutions to the complex problems they are encountering,” Speaker Donovan said. “The need for changes to Connecticut’s systems for dealing with domestic violence is urgent. I am proud that the task force, with the support of CCADV and others, has begun to make significant changes to Connecticut’s systems for dealing with domestic violence. We owe the victims and their families nothing less.”

In 2010, the General Assembly passed legislation based on the Speaker’s Task Force recommendations that marked the most sweeping changes to Connecticut’s domestic violence statutes since the Tracey Thurman law in 1986. Those changes included:

• adding $1.75 million in the FY 11 budget to provide 24 hour a day, 7 day a week staffing at the state’s emergency shelters for victims of domestic violence
• improved training for educators in teen dating and domestic violence
• increase support services, such as protecting victims who terminate their housing rental agreements to protect their safety
• improvements to the justice system including a pilot program to monitor high risk offenders using GPS and improvements in the enforcement of protective orders by making Connecticut’s orders recognizable in other states
• Expansion of domestic violence dockets to three additional courts for a total of 12 throughout the state

In the 2011 legislative session, the Speaker’s Task Force recommended improvements to the state’s response to domestic violence that became law including:

• strengthening access to restraining and protective orders
• changing the bail bonds system to strengthen the Insurance Department’s regulatory authority over surety bail bond agents and address the practice of undercutting
• maintaining funding for 24/7 staffing at the state’s domestic violence emergency shelters
• improving information sharing between state agencies
• allowing victims who have experienced a pattern of threatening or stalking to request a restraining order and clarifies that people of any age, including teens, can request a restraining order to protect them from a partner who has subjected them to abuse
• requiring offenders to surrender their firearms to police or sell them to a federally-licensed firearms dealer if the offender is barred from possessing them due to a restraining or protective order
• providing restitution to the families of victims of domestic violence like that provided to families of other crime victims
• fixing a contradiction in the statutes that exempts people in dating relationships from arrest when a domestic violence crime is alleged to have been committed, so that police have clear authority to make such arrests.

“This project has enormous significance for the future of Meriden,” Speaker Donovan said. “Flooding associated with Harbor Brook must be addressed in order for downtown development to move forward. As we make progress on this project, we are creating jobs in the short term and paving the way for sustained economic development down the road.”

The funding comes on heels of $2 million in state bond funds announced last December for Meriden flood control, and is expected to create approximately 30 temporary jobs.

Specifically, the funds will support construction of an auxiliary culvert at the Columbus Avenue Bridge to resolve flooding issues in the central city portion of Meriden and the extension of the adjacent Meriden Linear Trail to enhance recreational opportunities.

“Flooding is a major deterrent on many levels to development and quality of life issues,” Rep. Abercrombie said. “I am very pleased Meriden will receive the necessary funds to continue this project.”

"It will certainly help those areas near Habershon Field – which floods all the time," Rep. Buddy Altobello (D-Meriden) said.

Speaker Donovan also announced that the Bond Commission had approved $122,375 for Wilcox Tech to replace outdated computer equipment.

“We fought hard for our technical schools during the budget deliberations this year,” Speaker Donovan said. “That’s because they prepare young people for the workforce, and nothing is more important for Connecticut at this time. These computer upgrades will help ensure that the excellent preparation that takes place at Wilcox will continue.”

The funds will purchase 75 classroom computers, 12 whiteboards, 2 network servers, 5 network printers, a color printer and a backup power supply.

Municipal officials gave Connecticut's utility companies high marks for their communication efforts leading up to and during Tropical Storm Irene, though post-storm efforts drew mixed reviews, according to testimony submitted Monday to a legislative panel assessing the utilities' response.

And while the top executives for Connecticut Light & Power Co. and United Illuminating called for lawmakers to grant them expanded authority to trim and cut down trees outside of existing utility line buffer zones if they pose a threat to the system.

"Overall, true partnerships need to be strengthened now between local officials and their private utility counterparts so together--as a team--we are better prepared to protect the residents of Connecticut," Simsbury First Selectwoman Mary A. Glassman, president of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, wrote in testimony submitted Monday morning to the legislature's Energy & Technologies, Public Safety and Planning & Development committees.

Glassman was scheduled to testify in person before the panel Monday afternoon.

CCM, the chief lobbying arm for Connecticut's 169 cities and towns, conducted a survey after the Aug. 27-28 storm, which caused more than 1 million outages in the state during its height and in the first week afterward.

According to Glassman's testimony, about one-third of municipalities responded to the survey, with a majority describing their communication with utilities ranged from "good" to "very good" before and during the storm.

"Responses evaluation communication after the storm, however, were divided almost evenly between 'excellent,' 'very good,' 'good,' and 'needs improvement,'" Glassman wrote.

More than 90 percent of survey participants said they were assigned a liaison by their local electric utility and a majority of those respondents rated that performance as "excellent" to "very good."

"Communities were realistic," Glassman said during an interview Monday. "They knew this was a big storm."

But while the utilities drew mixed reviews for their response after the storm was over, Glassman said the criticisms, which focused heavily on poor communications, were valid and deserve attention. "Where there was frustration was from people not having the right information."

Much of the criticism in the survey, Glassman said, came from the eastern half of the state, which is dominated by rural communities that are large in size, small in population, and filled with trees. That pattern also held true at the hearing.

Though CL&P President and CEO Jeffrey Butler described his company's response as "appropriate, effective and strong," Lebanon First Selectwoman Joyce Okonuk told lawmakers that "clearly this gentleman has absolutely no idea of the real world."

Though it has only about 7,500 residents, Lebanon has over 100 miles of road. And local public works crews waiting for utility wires to be cleared so they could remove trees from roadways watched day after day as utility crews would waste hours at the start of each day. Utility crews would wait at the town emergency center 'for hours, waiting for someone (from CL&P) to tell them where to go," she said. "There was no communication. It was horrible."

Canterbury First Selectman Brian Sear said he still hasn't been told why CL&P crews arrived in his Windham County community on around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, but didn't begin work  until 10:45 a.m. the next day.

Killingworth officials reported a leaking transformer to a special skills unit at CL&P and were surprised days later when power restoration crews didn't make clearing the roads leading to that site a priority, First Selectwoman Catherine Iino charged. "Communication with CL&P was a real problem," she said.

CCM recommended several steps to improve communication:

• Strengthening links between utility recovery crews and local public works crews. The latter routinely must wait until dangerous, downed power lines are assessed and deactivated by utility staff before working to restore traffic on local streets.
•  Create a "strike team" model of communication provides town leaders with regular updates on power restoration plans and schedules.
•  Provide utility outage information in relation to local street and road mapping. 

William Quinlan, CL&P's vice president for customer solutions and chief municipal liaison for Tropical Storm Irene, said his company revised its outage tracking reports during the storm recovery to incorporate this last recommendation.

Outage reports typically identify problems in relation to system circuits and substations, not local roads and streets, Quinlan said. "We literally spent hours and hours every day ... translating this information into briefing sheets" for municipal use. "We need to automate this information going forward."

Quinlan also will be surveying all municipalities in CL&P's service area as part of a more comprehensive post-storm analysis to improve communications and other response issues.

Jim Torgerson, president and chief executive officer for United Illuminating, said his firm plans to spend between $10 million and $15 million over the next three years to revise its call center and outage management system to more promptly provide information regarding specific streets and addresses, both to customers and to municipal leaders.

Though most of the hearing focused on the response of the state's electric companies, Rep. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, questioned telephone providers about huge gaps in coverage in her district.

Flexer, whose northeastern Connecticut district includes several small communities on the Rhode Island border, said one of those towns -- Sterling -- was without land line and cell phone service in nearly all sections for two days after the storm. "My concern is that anyone located in that town couldn't even call 9-1-1," she said.

John Emra, regional vice president for legislative affairs for AT&T, said the community likely is served by a remote cellular terminal, which routes land line calls over a cellular network. These typically are used in remote locations as a cost-saving measure.

And a growing number of households also receive land line phone service through their cable television line -- a service that also requires electricity to function.

But what happens, Flexer asked, if electricity and cellular phone services are interrupted, and a neighborhood also loses the use of land line phones in the process?

"I don't know necessarily that I have an answer for you," Emra said, adding that while AT&T systems are built to withstand most inclement weather, "you can't necessarily build into your system (protections against) a 30-year storm."

Monday's hearing, which will continue on Monday, Sept. 26, is expected to produce several legislative proposals regarding storm response in the regular 2012 General Assembly session, which starts in February.

"This (hearing) is not a show piece," Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, co-chairman of the committee, said. "Our job here is to gather information that will result in changes."

"We can never guard against every aspect of an emergency, but we can certainly learn to be better prepared," Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, said to open the hearing.

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, was a little more critical in his assessment of the problems tied to Irene and the response. "Many people suffered without power for a long time," he said. "It jeopardized their health, safety and livelihood... We thought we had a good response, but we can do better."

But utility leaders said one of the best steps legislators can take is to recognize that Connecticut is one of the two most vegetation-dense states in the nation in terms of trees near its power lines.

Utilities currently have the right to trim tree limbs that fall within 15 feet of power lines from above, eight feet from the side, or within 10 feet at a level below the lines.

Butler said the trim zone rules aren't sufficient, and lawmakers need to develop a policy that allows utilities to target hazardous trees outside of this range, but close enough to cause significant damage if a major limb -- or the entire tree -- should collapse.

"Trees created the vast majority of all outages in this storm," Butler said, adding that other states, including California, have hazardous tree policies. "We literally rebuilt entire sections of our distribution system."

CL&P has an annual tree-trimming budget of $21 million that allows it to trim most trees in the existing buffer zones once every five years. But it also spends $4 million to $5 million annually to trim trees outside of that zone -- provided financial compensation can be negotiated with affected property owners.

Some legislators immediately endorsed the call for a tree-trimming policy review.

"We all need to spend some time on that and do it in a thoughtful manner," said Rep. Steven Mikutel, D-Griswold.

Sen. Joan V. Hartley, D-Waterbury, said she believes extensive damage was caused in her district by trees outside of trim zones. And while a review is a good idea, Hartley also warned public opposition could be strong.

"People are very covetous of their trees," she said. "I am of mine."

Four committees of the General Assembly – Energy & Technology, Public Safety, Labor and Public Employees, and Planning & Development – will hear from representatives of utility companies, workers, communications firms and municipalities, as well as from members of the general public.

“There’s hardly a person or business across the state that didn’t feel the impact of Irene,” House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) said. “We need to understand what worked and what didn’t in terms of how we prepared and how we responded. I expect these hearings will be productive and forward looking and will serve us well for the next, inevitable punch from Mother Nature.”

"Hurricane Irene put Connecticut to the test," said Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn). "Now it's time to evaluate our readiness and response. The informational hearings will help us get the answers that families expect and deserve. I'm also pleased that there will be time reserved for members of the public to share their experiences. And for those who cannot attend, we hope they'll contact us through Twitter or Facebook."

Senate and House Democrats have set up Facebook and Twitter accounts at www.facebook.com/pages/After-Irene-CT/262762473747233 and http://twitter.com/#!/AfterIreneCT to accept public comments and suggestions about experiences with the storm and the state’s readiness for and response to it.

“We have a responsibility to better understand what went right and what went wrong after Irene and why. We must examine what needs to be done to be better prepared for future events that undoubtedly will happen,” said Senator John Fonfara (D-Hartford), Senate Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee.

“People who had to wait for a week or more need some satisfaction in knowing why it took so long for their power to be restored. The delay went far beyond mere inconvenience; many people need electricity to pump well water to their homes and for other health requirements,” said House Chairwoman of the Energy & Technology Committee Vickie Nardello (D-Prospect, Bethany, Cheshire). “We need to determine what was done right and what we need to do better, whether it is communication or manpower. These hearings are not just for appearances. We will develop specific steps to improve how well we are prepared.”

On September 19th, the informational hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. with representatives of CL&P, UI and municipal utilities, followed by municipal representatives and officials from telephone, cable and wireless utility companies. The hearing will conclude at 4:30 p.m.

On September 26th, members of the public will have the opportunity to appear before the committees beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by union representatives and the electric utility companies. Members of the public will have an additional chance for comment before the hearing closes in early afternoon.

The Energy & Technology, Public Safety, Labor and Public Employees, and Planning & Development committees will hold an informational hearing in the coming weeks to address the following issues:

• Preparation and response by the utility companies, including United Illuminating and Connecticut Light & Power
• Performance of telephone and telecommunications companies
• Communication between utilities and municipal leaders
• Effectiveness of municipal reverse 9-1-1 systems and other communication methods

“Irene was one of the most powerful storms to ever hit Connecticut,” said Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr., “and many Connecticut residents, public workers, and companies stepped up to make a real difference. We also know that tens of thousands of families and businesses were left in the dark for many days – and now they’re looking for answers. It’s time to understand what happened and how Connecticut can be better positioned to deal with the next emergency.”

“Connecticut has an opportunity to learn from this storm, identify what was done effectively and what needs to be improved,” said Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven / Hamden). “My constituents want to know why it took so long to get the power back on in certain areas. Probing questions need to be asked and I’m confident the legislative hearing is the appropriate venue to get answers.” 

“I am pleased that almost all Connecticut residents now have their power restored,” said House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden). “Too many, however, suffered without power for too long. That posed more than just inconvenience for them – it jeopardized their health, safety and livelihoods. We are hearing from folks across the state that we can do better than this, and we’re looking to explore ways that we can be better prepared next time. That’s why it is appropriate at this time to convene legislative hearings.”

House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) said, “In meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday, she confirmed to me that Connecticut had the highest percentage of homes without power of all states affected by Hurricane Irene.  With such a heavy burden, to me the question remains whether our local utilities are working together to bring the necessary resources to bear throughout the state, not just within their own coverage areas.”

Comments from committee chairs are included below:

House Chairwoman of the Energy and Technology Committee Rep. Vicki Nardello (D-Prospect) said, “If you got your power back within a couple days you probably were very happy with the restoration effort, but for those who had to wait close to a week or more we need to understand what happened and why. Many people who had to wait the longest also depend on electricity to run their well water pumps and that can become a health issue very quickly. We are fortunate these record outages weren’t the result of a winter storm and the time is now to figure out what can be done better.”

“This hearing will help us to determine what went well and what went wrong in the aftermath of Irene. We will examine how to avoid or address outages more quickly after future disasters, and how to provide better information to electric customers left waiting in the dark," said Senator John Fonfara (D-Hartford), Senate Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee.

“We should consider the hearing an opportunity to examine what was done right by our state during Hurricane Irene  and what we can do better,” Rep. Stephen Dargan (D-West Haven), House Chair, Public Safety and Security Committee,  said. “Testimony from local officials and local emergency responders will be very helpful for future planning.”

“First responders were called upon to mobilize and deliver public safety services without interruption hour after hour for days at a time, and this hearing will provide a welcome opportunity to assess that response," Senator Joan V. Hartley (D-Waterbury), Senate Chair of the legislature's Public Safety and Security Committee, said. "In terms of law enforcement, fire and rescue operations, and emergency medical response Irene presented an extraordinary sequence of events and now offers the chance to prepare for the future.”

“It is important that we assess what went right and what went wrong with the restoration efforts by the utility companies so everyone is better prepared when the next storm strikes,” said Rep. Linda Gentile (D-Ansonia and Derby), House Chair of the Legislature’s Planning & Development Committee.

“Obviously the utility issue commanded most of the attention, since people were going without power for days on end," said Senator Cassano, who is Senate Chairman of the Planning and Development Committee. "But there were clearly other issues, such as caring for people with disabilities or who are on oxygen or bedridden. That was extremely taxing to municipalities, and a better way has to be found to identify and care for these people during a natural disaster.”

“All aspects of our state’s response to the storm need to be examined,” Rep. Zeke Zalaski (D-Southington), House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, said. “Our citizens need to know more about CL&P’s less than stellar response since they have already warned us about raising our rates.”

"In every facet of the response to Irene in every corner of Connecticut manpower issues came into play," Senator Edith G. Prague (D-Columbia), Senate Chair of the legislature's Labor and Public Employees Committee, said. "Going forward we have to ensure there will be adequate response capabilities in public safety personnel and for utilities restoration and infrastructure repair, just to name a few.”

“These increases have the potential of stalling recovery for working families that are looking for relief,” Speaker Donovan said in testimony before the DOT. “Rate hikes typically hit those who can least afford them the hardest. All of us are concerned about increasing gridlock on our roadways at a time when our businesses need the free flow of goods and services on the highways and causing more traffic-generated pollution that hurts our air and water. I am also concerned that fare hikes run counter to the idea that if public transportation works better, faster and cheaper than available alternatives, people will use it.”

Speaker Donovan, long a champion of the development of high speed commuter rail between New Haven and Springfield, said, “I commend Governor Malloy and Commissioner Redeker for making high speed rail a priority--Connecticut needs to take advantage of its location on the corridor between New York and Boston with a first-rate transit system. With projects like the New Haven-Springfield rail service, we can grow jobs, clean our environment and build our economy.

“That’s why I look forward to working with the Governor and his team as we look to maintain adequate, accessible, affordable public transit in our communities. I know the DOT will study all of the implications for our transportation strategy and our environmental priorities as they hear from the public and others about the proposed increases.”

Funding for the project was announced today by Meriden State Representatives House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, Catherine F. Abercrombie and Emil “Buddy” Altobello.

“This is further evidence of our commitment to revitalize Meriden,” Speaker Donovan said. “We fought for these funds to upgrade the quality of the West Main Street neighborhood and serve as a stimulant to commercial development in the area. That means jobs – some 40 temporary construction jobs and others that will be created through the additional development that we expect will occur as a result of these improvements.”

Funds will support streetscape improvements on West Main Street from Cook Avenue to North 2nd Street, including sidewalk repairs, roadway improvements and signalization designed to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety. The improvements will better connect the neighborhood to hospital and ambulance services, schools and a regional shopping center.

Federal funding of $725,000 has already been committed and approved for the project.

“Every opportunity we get to improve our city is a step forward to a safer and a more vibrant community," Rep. Abercrombie said. "I am delighted to see this funding approved, especially during this tough economic time. I thank Governor Malloy for prioritizing this project."

“This funding will provide the resources needed to implement a streetscape program that provides a safer, more economically viable, job creating central business district,” said Rep. Altobello.

“We are grateful to union leadership, the state employees and the Malloy Administration for getting the job done, and we appreciate the shared sacrifice of our state employees during this challenging time for our state.”

New federal rules under national healthcare reform championed by President Obama eliminate insurance co-payments and deductibles effective August 1, 2012 for certain coverage including birth control, STD screening, and domestic violence counseling. Speaker Donovan sees the change as a victory for women’s health and said more must be done to combat higher costs of health insurance for women.

“This is a major positive change in healthcare policy that greatly improves women’s health coverage and will reduce costs in the long run because it is an important step forward in preventative care,” said Donovan. “We must aggressively continue to work in the 2012 legislative session to further reduce cost inequities of healthcare coverage between women and men.”

Connecticut first mandated health insurance coverage for birth control in 1999. This year the legislature required coverage for a full breast MRI for women with dense breast tissue. The legislature has also banned “drive by” deliveries and mastectomies and ensured direct access to OB-GYN care.

“Requiring insurers to provide birth control coverage for women free of charge is a welcomed development,” Rep. Willis said. “Reproductive health care should be available for all women. The enhanced health program also includes coverage for education and counseling which is an important provision of the plan.”

“We commend HHS on these regulations. The elimination of co-pays for these preventive services is a huge step in removing a financial obstacle that millions of American women face in getting the quality healthcare they need and deserve. We want the women of Connecticut to know that we’re here, we’ve been here, and we will continue to provide the preventive care they need,” said Judy Tabar, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

According to NARAL, 98% of all women in the U.S. have used birth control at some point in their lives.

“This new policy is a significant victory for women’s healthcare,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut Executive Director Christian Miron. “Ending co-pays for basic family planning services will put birth control within women’s financial reach and will allow a woman to choose the birth control method that she and a medical professional agree works best for her.”

“The new federal rules implement an evidence-based approach to women’s health. Co-pays create barriers that put routine and preventive care, including reproductive services and screenings, out of the reach for too many women in our community. Eliminating these hurdles will enable women to meet their unique health needs and stay healthy,” said State Representative Michelle Cook (D-65th District)

Speaker Donovan also said recent insulting comments by news commentators comparing birth control and domestic violence counseling to pedicures and manicures as well as a public statement by Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa that free birth control coverage will “wipe out generations” showed that a gender-biased culture still exists regarding women and healthcare.

I look forward to working closely with Governor Malloy, Senate President Don Williams, many of our colleagues, the CAA and DECD in developing appropriate economic tools for job creation surrounding our airports.”

Speaker Donovan joined Governor Malloy at Bradley Airport for the
signing of the Connecticut Airport Authority legislation.

It’s been a difficult few months for our community as four local families have had to deal with domestic violence related homicides of Wallingford and Southington residents just this spring and summer. What’s more frightening is the potential for more tragedy as most domestic violence victims do not often reach out until they are battered, emotionally scarred, and have worked up the courage to ask for help. The good news is that legislators and advocates across the state are working to improve laws and services for families, so we do a better job preventing domestic violence, protecting victims and prosecuting offenders.

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior between partners or family members where one person uses physical, sexual, psychological, financial or verbal abuse to try to control the other. The victim feels powerless, intimidated and dependent on the abuser, making it hard for him or her to leave the relationship. Domestic violence is sometimes seen as a private problem with family members and friends often not recognizing or acknowledging it. In many ways, we accept domestic violence as a sad but natural part of our society.

It is all of our responsibility to be vigilant, to help victims to seek assistance, to promote prevention, to teach our kids at an early age about healthy relationships and to advocate for changes that make domestic violence socially unacceptable.

Fortunately, Connecticut is moving in the right direction. In 2009, the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence began a comprehensive review of how Connecticut’s laws deal with domestic violence. The task force solicited input from dozens of advocates, survivors, law enforcement officers, service providers, judges, prosecutors, teachers, and state agency staff working on the front lines of these issues. The result was some sweeping reforms to our domestic violence laws — the biggest changes in almost 25 years.

In 2010, for the first time, funding was allocated to staff emergency domestic violence shelters across the state 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support to victims fleeing abuse. In addition, last year the legislature put new laws on the books to allow victims to take time off from work to go to court and receive counseling; to protect victims who need to break their leases to protect their safety; and to provide police with new tools for enforcing restraining and protective orders. The Judicial Branch is in the process of developing three new dedicated domestic violence court dockets and piloting a program that uses GPS to monitor high risk offenders.

Just this week, Governor Malloy acknowledged the work of the task force by signing into law a second set of commonsense reforms aimed at protecting victims. Among these reforms is a new requirement that offenders surrender their firearms to police or sell them to authorized agents if they are prohibited from possessing them under the conditions of a restraining or protective order. A report issued in July by the Connecticut Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee found that gunshot wounds were the number one cause of domestic violence fatalities. Previously, offenders could surrender their firearms to a friend or relative, even someone in the same household. The new law protects victims by keeping guns out of the hands of known abusers.

A separate bill that passed into law this session prohibits bail bond agents from “undercutting,” competing for business by discounting the premium due on a bond. Previously, domestic violence defendants could post bond more easily by paying as little as no premium, were released back into the community and were free to return to their victim without any “cooling off” period. Undercutting has played a role in a number of serious and fatal domestic violence incidents.

Connecticut is served by 18 regional domestic violence programs that provide services for families in crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Available services include emergency shelters, hotline support, safety planning, counseling, legal advocacy, housing advocacy, support for children and teens, and translation services.

Anyone seeking help or information can call the statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-888-774-2900. By advocating for support services, education, and strong laws that protect families, we are making progress on eliminating domestic violence in Connecticut. But the most challenging step requires us all to work together to create a society that simply will not tolerate abuse.

Chris Donovan represents the 84th Assembly District, which includes part of Meriden. He is the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Sharlene Kerelejeza is executive director of the Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis Center, the region’s domestic violence program.

State Reps. Gerry Fox, Mae Flexer, Gov. Malloy, and Speaker Donovan at a ceremonial
signing of a new law that strengthens the state's response to domestic violence.

The new law (Public Act 11-152) was recommended by the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence  created by Speaker Donovan in 2009 and led by Representative Flexer. The task force held a series of meetings and public hearings over the past year to find ways the state could augment domestic violence reforms enacted last year.

“Domestic violence is sometimes seen as a private problem, but it is all of our responsibility to be vigilant, to help victims to seek assistance, to promote prevention, and to advocate for changes that make domestic violence socially unacceptable. This new law goes a long way in doing just that,” said Speaker Donovan.

“We listened to what victims of domestic violence and law enforcement professionals, including prosecutors and judges, said we needed to change. This law sends an unequivocal message that violence against women is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Rep. Flexer.

The law expands the ability of victims who have experienced a pattern of threatening or stalking to request a restraining order, and clarifies that people of any age, including teens, can request a restraining order to protect them from a partner who has subjected them to abuse.

It also fixes a contradiction in state law that currently exempts people in dating relationships from arrest when a domestic violence crime is committed, so that police have clear authority to make such arrests.

“Stemming domestic violence is an ongoing challenge and protecting victims during each step of the judicial process is a critical component,” said Rep. Fox, House Chair of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, noting 30 percent of criminal court dockets involve domestic violence. “This year we focused on improving law enforcement and victim services, such as reducing the number of offenders that get quickly released on bond before a cooling off period.”

The task force heard concerns about a lack of timely response from law enforcement to restraining order violations. To improve response time, courts will be authorized to issue a standing post-trial criminal protective order for certain offenses against children, which will promote more timely and lawful arrests of those in violation.

The new law will also improve access to domestic violence services by requiring police officers to provide victims with information about their regional domestic violence program so they can obtain trauma-informed counseling and other emergency services.

It also will allow families of victims of domestic violence to receive restitution like that provided to families of other crime victims. It also requires offenders to surrender their firearms to police or sell them to a federally-licensed firearms dealer if the offender is barred from possessing them due to a restraining or protective order.

The law requires judicial branch staff to disclose to the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) information indicating if a defendant poses a threat to a child. It also permits judicial branch family relations counselors to disclose information about a defendant to pretrial programs to ensure they provide appropriate services and to adult probation officers to ensure appropriate sentencing.

“Not only is this the second new law strengthening our domestic violence laws, but the state budget also included funding that will allow domestic violence shelters to remain open 24 hours a day and seven days a week,” said Rep. Flexer.

This is the second new law enacted to address domestic violence issues this year. Beginning October 1, bail bond agents will be required to charge the full premium and stop the practice of “undercutting.” Undercutting occurs when bail bond agents compete for business by discounting the premium due on a bond and do not charge their clients the statutorily required amount. As a result, defendants post bond at rates lower than what the state requires and are quickly released back into the community, sometimes without any “cooling off” period.

The Task Force was also responsible for introducing and leading passage of a three-part package of reforms during the 2010 session that led to the most sweeping changes to the state’s domestic violence statutes in almost 25 years. Additional information about the task force can be found on its web site at: www.housedems.ct.gov/DV.

By simply texting “Baby” (or “BEBE” for information in Spanish) to 511411, women can register to receive weekly text messages, timed to their individual due dates or their baby’s birth date throughout their pregnancy and baby’s first year.

Speaker Donovan praised the program, saying, “We know that good maternal health is critical to ensuring healthy babies. Test4baby’s innovative outreach methods will help Connecticut women access the information they need to give their kids a good start.”

“Low birth weight babies are one of our main health concerns,” Rep. Urban said. “Not only do they cost the state countless dollars, but because of the lack of universal intervention leads to untreated developmental delays and health problems cause even more heartbreak. The ability for moms to access critical information in a quick convenient format is a great advance and should help moms carry to term. Text4baby program has great promise and I look forward to gathering data on the results for our Children’s Report Card.”

From now until October 2011, Test4baby is holding a State Enrollment Contest throughout the nation to help spread the word about the program and improve maternal and infant health. The top three states to enroll the most users between now and the end of October will be announced at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting in Washington, DC in November.

Lily Gagliardi, Founder and CEO of Lily’s Kids Inc., state lead agency for Text4baby, has been an integral part of the Text4baby process. She attended the Text4baby partner information sharing session in Washington DC earlier this year representing Connecticut along with representatives from eight other states. Ms. Gagliardi said,“This is an innovative, evidence based, free text messaging service designed to provide health education for pregnant women and mothers of infants. It has been a pleasure working with our Connecticut state partners to help get the word out about this program.”

For more information, contact info@lilykidsinc.org or visit text4baby.org.

Senate Bill 11 called for a number of requirements for individual and small group health insurance companies. Changes included: increasing the amount of time required before a new rate can take effect, requiring a symposium on a rate filing if certain criteria are met, and mandating the Insurance Department post rate filings on its website and provide a 30-day public comment period.

Under an agreement reached between the executive and legislative branches, the Office of Health Advocate (OHA) can request that the Commissioner hold a hearing for rate increases of at least 15 percent or more on individual and small group HMO plans. The collaboration allows for up to four hearings a year while the Commissioner can exercise his current broad statutory authority to hold hearings on other health products, including long term health care policies, if necessary. Additional changes could be discussed next year.

“The General Assembly overwhelming approved Senate Bill 11 because its members believe in the importance of changing the way rate hikes are approved,” said Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn). “The Governor shares our concerns and is working with us to immediately improve the process.”

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) said, “We passed this bill after hearing from thousands of residents facing unconscionable increases in their insurance premiums—small businesses, self-employed individuals and those looking for work—folks who have no leverage to negotiate with the big insurance companies. That is why I am pleased that Governor Malloy and Commissioner Leonardi have agreed to a compromise that will allow public hearings and the participation of the Healthcare Advocate in the rate approval process.”

“Disagreement over the specifics of certain legislation is inevitable, but fortunately we all agree that there must be greater transparency in the rate approval process,” said Senator Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven / Hamden). “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to work with the Malloy Administration and begin work on a compromise that will benefit consumers and enhance close scrutiny of proposed health insurance increases.”

“This compromise will ensure that consumers have a voice in proposed insurance rate increases without compromising the health and competitiveness of the state’s insurance industry,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “Particularly as the state works to implement federal healthcare reform, it’s important that we strike that delicate balance.”

State Senator Joseph J. Crisco (D-Woodbridge), Senate chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said “To me it just seems like common sense that approval for any rate increase should be granted in conjunction with a requirement that insurance companies or the Insurance Department maintain and make available better records and subject the applicant to some measure of public scrutiny,” Senator Crisco said. “The agreement we've negotiated represents a first step toward greater transparency and better access to application materials in Connecticut's insurance rate approval process."

State Rep. Robert W. Megna (D-New Haven), House chair of the Insurance Committee, said, “We have heard from many concerned consumers and advocates about this veto. People get sticker shock when they see their annual premium increases. It is crucial that people get notice of excessive increases and an opportunity to have a say in the state’s consideration of these rates. I am glad to see the Insurance Department will be connected to the public in making these decisions.”

“Unfortunately, the Governor had to put this plan together due to the failure of the unions to ratify the agreement. This plan would harm our state in significant ways. That is why I am urging the Governor and SEBAC to reach an agreement – that is the most responsible action available.

“In the meantime, we anticipate receiving the final, detailed plan from the Administration, sharing that plan with Appropriations Committee leadership and caucus members for analysis, and beginning to identify the most onerous aspects of it. We have tentative plans to conduct a public hearing on specific items in the proposal on or before August 15.”

Rep. Jeff Berger, Commerce Committee chair who also spoke at the event, said, “This legislation should signal that Connecticut is eager to create and maintain jobs. With current economic issues and problems looming ahead, it is imperative we do all we can to encourage job growth in the state.”

Governor Malloy signs the "First Five" legislation. On hand for the ceremony were, left to right, Rep. Berger, State Rep. Matt Ritter, Speaker Donovan, State Rep. David Baram, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams, DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith, Cigna CEO David Cordani, Insurance Commissioner Thomas Leonardi and State Sen. Gary LeBeau.

“Redistricting of House districts needs to make sense for the communities of Connecticut, and comply with federal and state constitutional requirements, including the Voting Rights Act’s protections of minorities,” Speaker Donovan said. “Latinos and African Americans are the two largest minority groups in our state. We need to fully understand the impact of proposed changes on African American and Latino communities throughout Connecticut, and I am pleased that Toni and Andres are willing to help us with this task.”

Reps. Walker and Ayala will be working with the Speaker and Rep. Sandy Nafis (D-Newington), the two members of the Reapportionment Committee from the House Majority Caucus. They also will work with advocacy groups and others who are interested in participating in the process, to be sure that the Committee receives the best possible information as the members prepare to draw new House districts.

The Reapportionment Committee will be holding five public hearings around the state in the coming weeks, one in each Congressional district. Members of the public are invited to provide input on how new districts should be drawn. The hearings will be on July 5 at 7 p.m. in Waterbury City Hall, July 6 at 7 p.m. in Norwich City Hall, July 18 at 7 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers at Norwalk City Hall (rescheduled from June 30), July 19 at 7 p.m. at the Fair Haven Middle School in New Haven, and July 20 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

“Even one incident of domestic violence in our state is too many, but when more than 20,000 incidents resulting in arrest occur in a single year as they did in 2008, something had to be done,” said Speaker Donovan who established the task force in 2009. “I’m extremely proud of the work of the Task Force in producing landmark legislation that helps victims, gives law enforcement and the courts more tools to fight this scourge, and raises awareness among all of us that domestic violence has got to stop. I am grateful to the Office of the Victim Advocate for recognizing these efforts.”

According to Michelle Cruz, Esq., the State of Connecticut’s Victim Advocate, “The work of the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence has established Connecticut as a model in the protection of domestic violence victims across the nation. The success of the Task Force has been the ability of this legislative body to canvass the state gaining valuable information from a myriad of agencies, organizations and individuals, then decipher the key legislative initiatives and promulgate new laws. The Office of the Victim Advocate was honored to work closely with the Task Force on key issues, specifically the end of arresting and prosecuting victims of domestic violence for violating their own orders of protection.”

Speaker Donovan received the award at the Melanie Ilene Rieger Memorial Conference held at Centeral Connecticut State University on June 22.
In 2010, the General Assembly passed legislation based on the Speaker’s Task Force recommendations that marked the most sweeping changes to Connecticut’s domestic violence statutes since the Tracey Thurman law in 1986. Those changes included:

• adding $1.75 million in the FY 11 budget to provide 24 hour a day, 7 day a week staffing at the state’s emergency shelters for victims of domestic violence.
• improved training for educators in teen dating and domestic violence
• increase support services, such as protecting victims who terminate their housing rental agreements to protect their safety
• improvements to the justice system including a pilot program to monitor high risk offenders using GPS and improvements in the enforcement of protective orders by making Connecticut’s orders recognizable in other states.
• Expansion of domestic violence dockets to three additional courts for a total of 12 throughout the state.

In the 2011 legislative session just concluded, the Speaker’s Task Force recommended improvements to the state’s response to domestic violence that became law including:

• strengthening access to restraining and protective orders
• changing the bail bonds system to strengthen the Insurance Department’s regulatory authority over surety bail bond agents and address the practice of undercutting
• maintaining funding for 24/7 staffing at the state’s domestic violence emergency shelters
• improving information sharing between state agencies
• allowing victims who have experienced a pattern of threatening or stalking to request a restraining order and clarifies that people of any age, including teens, can request a restraining order to protect them from a partner who has subjected them to abuse
• requires offenders to surrender their firearms to police or sell them to a federally-licensed firearms dealer if the offender is barred from possessing them due to a restraining or protective order
• provides restitution to the families of victims of domestic violence like that provided to families of other crime victims
• fixes a contradiction in the statutes that exempts people in dating relationships from arrest when a domestic violence crime is alleged to have been committed, so that police have clear authority to make such arrests.

The Meriden delegation said the funds are expected to be approved when the state Bond Commission meets on June 24.

The funds are to finance construction, renovations and equipping of expansion space for the Community Health Center facility at 134 State Street in Meriden. The project includes expansion into approximately 20,000 square feet on two stories in the building adjacent to the existing center.

“This is not only great news for Meriden, but for all of the people the Community Health Centers serve,” said Speaker Donovan. “These centers help keep our community healthy by providing critical services to so many individuals who otherwise would have to forego important care.”

“In addition, this is important economic development for Meriden that will create construction jobs in the near term and permanent health care jobs down the road,” Speaker Donovan added. “I am grateful to Governor Malloy for his support of this project.”

Governor Dannel P. Malloy said, “The 80 jobs associated with this one project alone – 60 construction-related and 20 permanent at the health center – will help put people in Connecticut back to work while serving the healthcare needs of people in Meriden and the surrounding areas. Community Healthcare Centers meet a critical need in the community, and I’m pleased to support this project.”

“Over the years, the Community Health Centers have done a great job,” Rep. Altobello said. “Their services are needed now more than ever. With so many people out of work and losing their work-related health insurance, the centers really pick up the slack for us. The significance of the jobs this project will create should not be underestimated either, as we continue to help our cities and towns like Meriden recover and prosper.”

“With the advent of national health care reform and increased demand by those who previously could not access essential services, centers like these will become increasingly critical to a functioning health care system,” Rep. Abercrombie said. “I am pleased these funds have been approved for the center and assure my constituents this is money well-spent toward improving the quality of life for all.”

Democrats in the House and Senate, working cooperatively with a Democratic governor, accomplished a great deal during this session. Legislation was passed that will stabilize the state's finances, remake state government, and create jobs.

A balanced budget was passed in early May to move our state forward. Our most vulnerable citizens were protected, sacrifice was shared but fair, and government was made smaller and more efficient.

This is just a beginning. More needs to happen to get Connecticut on the right track to full recovery – creating jobs, putting the unemployed back to work, and stimulating economic growth. After this session, the fundamentals are in place:

• Invested in the University of Connecticut Health Center to develop Connecticut's bioscience industry (SB 1152: AAC the University of Connecticut Health Center)

• Established the Technology Park at the University of Connecticut to spur the growth of new, high-tech industries
  (SB 1242: AA Authorizing Bonds of the State for Capital Improvements Authorizing Special Tax Obligation Bonds of the State for Transportation Purposes and Authorizing State Grant Commitments for  School Building Projects)

• Created the First Five Program to jumpstart job creation
  (SB 1001: AA Creating the First Five Program)

• Provided funding for tourism promotion
  (SB 1239/PA 11-6: AAC the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2013, and Other Provisions Relating to Revenue)

• Developed a comprehensive energy plan to reduce costs and spur green job creation
  (SB 1243: AAC the Establishment of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Planning for Connecticut's Energy Future)

• Provided additional flexibility for businesses by streamlining corporate and securities laws
  (HB 6497: AA Creating Jobs by Enhancing Connecticut's Corporate and Securities Laws)

• Invested in capital improvement projects that will provide immediate construction jobs and improve infrastructure
  (SB 1242: AA Authorizing Bonds of the State for Capital Improvements Authorizing Special Tax Obligation Bonds of the State for Transportation Purposes and Authorizing State Grant Commitments for  School Building Projects)

• Improved economic development programs designed to assist small businesses and start-ups
  (HB 6525: AAC the Continuance of the Majority Leaders' Job Growth Roundtable)

• Created closer links between our research institutions and private businesses
  (SB 1173: AAC Qualified Private Investments for Connecticut Innovations, Inc.' Pre-seed Program)

• Developed a responsible, balanced budget that protects the middle-class
  (SB 1239/PA 11-6: AAC the Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2013, and Other Provisions Relating to Revenue)

• Increased access to quality, affordable healthcare through comprehensive healthcare reform and pooling for municipalities
  (HB 6308: AAC Healthcare Reform)

• Gave all students of our state equal access to post-secondary education, regardless of immigration status
  (HB 6390/PA 11-43: AAC Access to Postsecondary Education)

• Addressed the educational achievement gap by providing schools the flexibility they need to ensure our kids get a good education
  (SB 929: AAC the Achievement Gap)

• Ensured workers have access to paid sick days to protect the health of employees, their families, and the public
  (SB 913: AA Mandating Employers Provide Paid Sick Leave to Employees)

• Extended the foreclosure mediation program to keep families in their homes and neighborhoods whole
  (HB 6351: AAC Foreclosure Mediation and Assistance Programs, the Highly Compensated Employee Exemption for Mortgage Loan Originators, General-Use Prepaid Cards and Neighborhood Protection)

• Increased the legal protections available to victims of domestic violence by closing the loopholes that allow offenders continued access to victims
  (HB 6629: AAC Domestic Violence)

• Gave municipalities more tools to work together to save taxpayers' money
  (HB 5780: AAC Interlocal Agreements)

• Protected transgender individuals facing discrimination in the workplace, education, housing and public accommodations
  (HB 6599: AAC Discrimination)

• Reduced the burden on our criminal justice system by decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana
  (SB 1014: AAC the Penalty for Certain Nonviolent Drug Offenses)

The organization selected Speaker Donovan for this recognition because of his support of legislation during the 2011 session of the General Assembly aimed at improving the educational, health and emotional well-being of young children in Connecticut.

Among his initiatives, the Speaker’s Task Force on Children and the Recession and his Domestic Violence Task Force helped craft important legislation for children and their families.

“There is nothing more important than taking care of our children,” Speaker Donovan said. “They are our future. I am honored by this recognition from the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, but honestly, this work is a labor of love and passion and necessity.”

The Early Childhood Alliance is a group of organizations and individuals, such as the Alliance for Bloomfield's Children and Hartford Area Childhood Collaborative, committed to improving the lives of children from birth through age eight. Member organizations employ over 3,000 Connecticut residents and provide care and education for nearly 20,000 children.

“I want to thank Senate President Williams, Senators Crisco and Gerratana, and all who voted for this landmark legislation.

“The Healthcare Partnership and Sustinet have been designed to work together as coordinated steps in health care reform. By allowing towns and non-profits to join the state health care system the Partnership provides an important foundation for the broader reforms that Sustinet will create in the future.

“Municipalities and non-profits will be able to take advantage of the increased bargaining power and reduced administrative costs associated with the state plan. Connecticut now joins at least 24 other states that allow local government employees to participate in the state employee plan.

“This legislation also will stimulate our economy. Employee benefits are one of the largest expenses faced by our cities, towns and non-profits. This plan would allow these entities to take advantage of good health care while providing financial relief to balance their budgets.”

“As we have argued for the past several years, this legislation will move Connecticut further on the path to quality, affordable healthcare for all,” said House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, who has been a chief proponent of health care reform in Connecticut.

He added, “The Healthcare Partnership and Sustinet have been designed to work together as coordinated steps in health care reform. By allowing towns and non-profits to join the state health care system the Partnership provides an important foundation for the broader reforms that Sustinet will create in the future.”

Under the bill, municipalities and non-profits will be able to take advantage of the increased bargaining power and reduced administrative costs associated with the state plan. The state comptroller will offer the option to municipalities for enrollment beginning July 1, 2012 and non-profits for enrollment starting January 1, 2013.

At least 24 states allow local government employees to participate in the state employee plan.

"Hard work and persistent effort has ultimately resulted in a comprehensive bill that moves Connecticut closer to accessible healthcare for all," said State Rep. Betsy Ritter (D-Waterford, Montville), chair of the Public Health Committee. "This process has been extremely challenging, but I am pleased to see we are making progress in our commitment to provide viable options for those in need. I thank my colleagues and Speaker Donovan for his leadership on this bill and also all the people that helped make this happen."

 “Similar to shopping at a wholesale store, buying health care in bulk saves consumers money—it’s the power of numbers,” Speaker Donovan said. The Partnership expands on the successful prescription drug pooling initiative from last year, which is already saving money for some municipalities by allowing them to take advantage of the state’s bulk purchasing power. The City of Harford will save $1.8 million per year by joining the state prescription plan. In turn, the state will save $6 million through Hartford’s participation.

Speaker Donovan said the state employee health plan has been providing good benefits to employees while keeping cost increases to a minimum, in large part due to the efforts of the state’s health care cost containment committee, which would continue to oversee the plan under this proposal.

The legislation, he said, will also stimulate our economy. “Employee benefits are one of the largest expenses faced by our cities, towns and non-profits. This plan would allow these entities to take advantage of good healthcare while providing financial relief to balance their budgets,” he said.

The provisions in the bill move the state toward Connecticut-specific health care reform that improves health care delivery, controls costs and results in savings and better health outcomes by:

• planning for a multi-payer database
• improving data collection at DPH
• establishing the Office of Health Reform and Innovation
• developing mechanisms for expanding access to insurance when the individual responsibility requirement takes effect in 2014
• identifying non-state funding sources to facilitate implementation of the federal healthcare reform
• coordinating Medicaid enrollment planning with the Exchange
• convening a consumer advisory board
• establishing the SustiNet Healthcare Cabinet to advise the Governor on development of an integrated health care system and a business plan for expanding coverage through private or public mechanisms; implementing a Basic Health Program for people 133-200% FPL; and convening working groups on health care system reforms, such as multi-payer initiatives, medical homes and electronic health records.

With this legislation, Speaker Donovan said, Connecticut will be able to attract new federal health care dollars; put in place more effective and sustainable ways to deliver health care, improve quality and expand coverage; provide affordable state options for residents; and implement delivery system and payment reforms to move toward a more coordinated, patient-centered, evidenced-based approach to health care that improves quality and slows cost growth.

“Pooling gives municipalities and non-profits the chance to realize important cost savings while providing families in our state with greater access to quality, affordable health care,” Speaker Donovan said. “In addition, the state will see relief that will help us continue our economic recovery.”

Speaker Donovan cited a prescription drug pooling bill that became law last year under which the City of Hartford expects to save $1.8 million in annual employee prescription costs by coming into the pool. The addition of Hartford employees to the state’s plan would also result in a savings of $6 million per year on the part of the state.

“We’ve been talking about pooling opportunities for a number of years,” he said. “Now, with a Democratic Governor who understands how this initiative can help families, our cities and towns, non-profits and the state, we have a chance to pass legislation that will make a real difference in people’s lives.”

“I commend and thank the Governor and union leadership for their hard work in making the tough choices. To move Connecticut forward, we knew that everyone in the state would have to contribute. In avoiding massive layoffs that would hurt our state, and by working together, we are stronger and Connecticut can prosper.”

Earlier this week as the State Senate was preparing to vote on the biennial budget Senator Len Suzio (R-Meriden) filed an amendment which would eliminate $1 million of state funding for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, which provides critical health care services for 65,000 men and women each year. Services include cancer screenings, HIV tests, breast exams, contraceptive care, and pregnancy tests.

“The Senate amendment was extreme and dangerous and targeted one of Connecticut largest and most trusted health care providers,” said Judy Tabar. “The amendment would remove Public Health funding to Planned Parenthood which provides basic primary and lifesaving health care to women and families. To be targeted by this outrageous legislation and lobbying efforts is radically out of step with mainstream American values, and it’s out of line with the issues.”

“To propose cutting these funds is a contradiction for those who often complain about social issues like out of wedlock pregnancies and single parenthood as economic burdens on our society," Speaker Donovan said. "Women must continue to have access to services that help them make decisions concerning their family planning.”

Also this week, Senator Suzio and other Republican lawmakers participated in a conservative group’s lobbying day at the State Capitol. The Family Institute of Connecticut vowed to continue its efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and in a newsletter to members even touted the historic nature of its initiative, “So far as we know, there has never before been a proposal to cut Planned Parenthood in the midst of a Connecticut budget battle.”

“It is disturbing - but not surprising - that the right-wing agenda of the national Republican Party appears to be infiltrating Connecticut,” said Senator Williams. “There is no doubt that the amendment and subsequent lobbying is part of a coordinated effort to undermine women’s reproductive rights and health care in this state. I hope Republican leaders will denounce this kind of brand of politics.”

The attack on Planned Parenthood and the amendment offered by Senator Suzio mirror efforts by national conservative Republicans in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood, Two amendments introduced by the Republican majority in Congress seek to eliminate all federal funding for family planning and exclude Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funds including Medicaid reimbursements as a budget-cutting measure.

“We have made significant spending reductions, consolidated 30 percent of our state agencies and maintained important investments that will help grow businesses and protect families. After 3 years of economic hardship, our state’s finances are stabilized and Connecticut is moving forward on the road to economic recovery.”

House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden): “We are turning a corner, putting our fiscal deficits behind us and moving forward with the business of creating jobs and growing our state’s economy. There is no borrowing, no one-time revenues, and no gimmicks.

"Unlike the budgets in New York and New Jersey, we are protecting funding to cities and towns. Schools, town services and local property taxes will not be impacted. We’ve made real deep cuts, reduced the debt, fully funded our pension obligations and restored the rainy day fund. Making tough decisions is what the people of Connecticut expect us to do.”

• There will be no 3-cent increase to the state’s excise tax on gas as was proposed.

• Additional language will be included in the budget regarding the $2 billion placeholder for concessions and savings. Any gap between the savings and concessions total and the $2 billion would require future legislative action.

Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn): “Connecticut’s economic crisis – like nearly every state – has been long and severe. Monday we will take the first step in turning the page and setting the foundation for economic growth. The budget has no gimmicks, no borrowing, and no cuts to municipal aid. With the recent increases of gas prices it was also important to avoid any increase to the gas tax – and that’s exactly what we did. By consolidating agencies and departments and cutting bureaucracy we also begin to reshape Connecticut state government. There is more work to be done but this week marks an important first step.”

Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden): "With Democrats working together, we've been able to complete a budget agreement earlier than in recent memory, one that is honest and shares sacrifice in a fair way in resolving the deficit. We were able to stay within Governor Malloy's framework while ironing out final details. In eliminating the gas tax increase, we were able to help ease the burden on Connecticut residents at a time when prices at the pump are already putting a strain on them."

Governor Dannel P. Malloy: "The legislature should be commended for moving forward with an up-or-down vote on the budget. In doing so, they are taking an important step to stabilize our state's finances and get our fiscal house in order. With an agreement on the final few details, this budget remains within my framework and relies on neither gimmicks nor tricks. This budget is the real deal, and I'm pleased we'll have an up-or-down vote early this week."

"A year ago we passed a responsible budget designed to help Connecticut get through tough times. We learned today that not only does it appear we will finish the current year in the black, but that the amount of surplus by the end of the fiscal year could eliminate any need for borrowing. The steps we took to resolve the challenges we faced are working for our state.

"We worked hard to balance the budget responsibly last year. As we get ready to pass another tough and honest budget next week, we are prepared to continue the hard work to bring economic and job growth to Connecticut. There is no greater need than putting our people back to work and helping our families recover and prosper."

“We are here tonight to boldly raise our voices. We want to let the governor and the legislative leaders of our state know that we want them to keep SustiNet moving forward,” said Juan A. Figueroa, president of the foundation. “That means making sure the way is paved for a public option that meets the needs of small businesses and residents in a timely fashion.”

The foundation was joined by other proponents of the SustiNet health care reform bill at Union Station, where the proposal was launched in January 2009. It was voted into law through a veto override in July of that year. Rally organizers Wednesday night said they also wanted to urge Gov. Dannel Malloy to reclaim his promise to deliver on health care reform by clearing the way for the implementation of SustiNet’s public option at the appropriate time and in a fiscally responsible manner.

“SustiNet is a centerpiece of that promise,” said Linda St. Peter, a member of the Connecticut Association of REALTORS, one of the more than 15 statewide organizations that comprise the SustiNet Leadership Network, whose members attended the event. “We are well aware of the fiscal challenges and an affordable health care option for small businesses and independent contractors is part of the solution.”

Gov. Malloy was invited to the rally. Speaker of the House, Christopher Donovan, Senate President Pro Tempore, Don Williams, and the co-chairs of the Public Health Committee, Rep. Betsy Ritter and Sen. Terry Gerratana, were among the lawmakers that addressed the gathering. Donovan told the crowd, “We have in place a framework that will provide the next steps for SustiNet to move us in the direction of expanding access, improving care and achieving cost savings.”

“By controlling costs, we help families and can encourage small businesses to create jobs.” Donovan said, “We’re going to continue to work with the supporters of health care improvements and SustiNet here in Connecticut to make reform stronger and stronger. We need to do what’s in the best interests of all of Connecticut’s residents.”

Ritter said while she is disappointed the SustiNet proposal has been modified, she is pleased to be working with the governor and the people from around Connecticut to keep moving health care forward. “Through these efforts, our state will be better poised to take advantage of opportunities in the federal health care reforms, bringing affordable health care closer to reality.” She said, “ Increased job opportunities for the state, helping small businesses thrive and grow, and building a stronger economy are just some of the advantages we can look forward to.”

Rally goers marched through Bushnell Park to the North steps of the Capitol and delivered personal cards from SustiNet supporters to the governor.

In addition to the Connecticut Association of REALTORS, other members of the SustiNet Leadership supporting the event:

AARP Connecticut
League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Inc.
National Physicians Alliance
Connecticut Association of REALTORS, Inc.
American Cancer Society
Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care
Connecticut Nurses’ Association
Christian Community Action, Inc.
Small Business for a Healthy Connecticut
National Association of Social Workers/ Connecticut Chapter
Greater Meriden Chamber
Connecticut Center for a New Economy
Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut, Inc.
AFSCME Council 4
Christian Activities Council
Connecticut Citizen Action Group

I want to thank the Governor for putting forward a responsible, honest budget. This budget is the result of many people willing to work hard, willing to work together, and willing to listen to reasonable ideas for the best solution for Connecticut

From the beginning, we have talked about making certain that shared sacrifice also was fair sacrifice. Our committees, finance and appropriation, listened to the public and worked with the Governor to improve his framework. Working together, we have achieved that in this budget.

It asks more of our wealthiest residents who can afford it. It softens the tax burden on the middle class, while maintaining funding for schools, cities and towns, and protects our most vulnerable citizens.

This is a fair, responsible budget that will move Connecticut forward. As we share in our sacrifice to rebuild Connecticut, we too will share in our  recovery and prosperity.

“In a matter of days, the Finance and Appropriations committees are scheduled to vote on the legislative budget recommendations. Our budget will be responsible, not political.

“We appreciate the efforts of legislative Republicans to address the state’s budget issues, but are troubled by many aspects of their proposal. Here are just a few:

• Unrealistic expectation of savings: Assumptions on savings from items such as Medicaid Fraud Recovery seem wildly inflated. Further, we expect benefit reductions to low-income seniors and the disabled from the Medicaid waiver.
• Despite assertions to the contrary, their budget cuts do harm to the state’s safety net for low income elderly citizens, vocational-technical and neighborhood schools.
• The proposed selling off of parks, airports, and DMV functions would likely cost residents and change how Connecticut government functions and works for its residents.
• The elimination of the Clean Elections Program and cuts to the Connecticut Human Rights and Opportunities Commission are just two examples of actions that would harm efforts we have made toward good and clean government.

“We are working diligently to reach a budget agreement with Governor Malloy, and expect that the Appropriations and Finance Committees will soon present a realistic and workable budget for Connecticut.”

The proposed bills, HB 6629, An Act Concerning Domestic Violence and HB 6053, An Act Concerning Domestic Violence and Child Trauma would implement recommendations put forth by the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence. HB 6053 has been approved by the Human Services Committee and HB 6629 is expected to be approved by the Judiciary Committee within the next two weeks. Both bills would then be considered by the full General Assembly.

“The Speaker’s task force heard from many different groups and individuals and their input was invaluable in crafting this legislation,” said Rep. Cook. “I am very pleased to see this bill gathering such support among legislators.”

The press conference was held at the Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington. Representatives from Women's Support Services the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Jeanne Fusco, Associate Director of the Susan B. Anthony Project spoke in support of the bills.

House Speaker Donovan, who created the task force, stated that despite progress in protecting victims of domestic violence, more needs to be done. Specifically, he said, “One of the priorities of the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence this year is to strengthen the response of law enforcement to domestic violence.”

“While we have passed important domestic violence laws in recent years, our work is far from complete and we must continue to be vigilant,” Rep. Willis said. “Domestic violence remains a serious crime and we must encourage the victims of domestic violence to call police and ensure that law enforcement at all levels protect the victims from those who are threatening them.”

A goal of the legislation is to develop a statewide law enforcement model policy that articulates best practices for responding to violations of restraining and protective orders. Another goal is to protect teen victims by clarifying that people of any age can request a restraining order to protect them from a partner who has subjected them to abuse. Department of Public Health statistics that show 10 percent of Connecticut teens were involved in a physically abusive relationship this past year, and 17 percent reported being in an emotionally or verbally abusive relationship.

"Through this task force and in the laws we've passed in recent years, the legislature has made significant progress in helping to protect victims of domestic violence from further abuse,” said Senator Roraback. “This initiative will extend protections to teenage victims and give law enforcement the necessary authority to intervene and help stop domestic violence incidents when a protective order has been violated. I am pleased this new law has met with bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly."

The legislation also requires the Judicial Branch to develop additional domestic violence dockets within available appropriations, and makes several changes to the Family Violence Education Program (FVEP), a diversionary program.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ELIZABETH B. "BETSY" RITTER
"SustiNet's primary strategy for slowing cost growth is overhauling Connecticut's health care delivery and payment systems. The fiscal note highlights the power of numbers to leverage health care innovation -- measures that encourage care coordination and electronic medical records -- to create savings, potentially $58.5 million for health care the state purchases."

The study, “Paid Sick Days: Measuring the small cost for Connecticut businesses,” by Douglas Hall and Elise Gould (http://epi.3cdn.net/b4d148952162ef259d_skm6bn82u.pdf) says that “the potential cost of providing paid sick days is in fact extremely small relative to the total sales of a firm. In addition, available research shows cost-savings for employers that provide paid sick days, largely resulting from reduced employee turnover.”

The authors conclude, “By adopting legislation that further extends paid sick days to its workers, Connecticut can build on its well-founded reputation for having a highly educated, healthy, and productive workforce. Without regulation, policymakers can expect a continued “race to the bottom” in which competitive pressures cause employers to reduce benefits that improve the health of employees, and, in this case, the health of the public. Instead, establishing a minimum standard for the provision of paid sick days would level the playing field among employers within the state and improve the health of families and workplaces. The empirical evidence shows that the costs of such a policy for Connecticut’s employers would be extremely low, and therefore easily absorbed through very small adjustments without a measurable impact on employment.”

In testimony earlier this month before the Labor and Public Employees Committee, Speaker Donovan wrote that he believed paid sick leave legislation could strike a balance “between protecting working families without placing onerous burdens on employers. I am confident that this committee and the legislative process can produce a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will meet both of those challenges.”

“From a public health point of view, staying home from work when you or your children are sick is just common sense,” Speaker Donovan wrote. “While the majority of Connecticut employees do in fact have paid sick leave, the common sense option of staying home is difficult, if not impossible, for many working families if they lack access to paid sick time.”

The forum, sponsored by the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, was held at Norwalk City Hall and focused on strategies to keep people in their homes while representing themselves through the foreclosure process.

“We continue to face tough economic times as we find ways to deal with our statewide budget deficit,” Donovan said. “In the meantime, we are reaching out to homeowners who are having difficulty with their mortgages. This program is an alternative to consider for those who want to keep their homes from being foreclosed.”

The forum highlighted resources and assistance available through the Connecticut Fair Housing Center. Mediation classes are being offered across the state. Topics discussed ranged from home loan modification and negotiating a home exit strategy to housing counselors and demystifying the process. An 80-page manual, which walks homeowners through the foreclosure process and includes all forms needed for court, was distributed. To date, some 5,000 owners have kept their homes thanks to this mediation process.

“Facing foreclosure is devastating to families, communities and the economy,” Morris said. “We are trying to provide necessary tools to help homeowners who are facing this crisis. It is my hope that as more people learn about how this program works that we will have many taking advantage of it.”

“Norwalk families facing foreclosure deserve a chance to save their homes,” said Rep. Perone. “It is outrageous that so many families are facing the threat of foreclosure, but we have created programs to help Connecticut homeowners.”

“The Connecticut Fair Housing Center is the only non-profit organization in the state that provides legal assistance and resources, free of charge, to homeowners facing foreclosure,” said CFHC Staff Attorney Jeffrey Gentes. “One in 13 Connecticut homeowners is either 90 days behind on their mortgage or in foreclosure. It is critical that we continue to support and educate people about resources like the Foreclosure Mediation Program so that we can prevent as many foreclosures as possible.”

For assistance with foreclosure, please contact:

Connecticut Department of Banking
Foreclosure Assistance Hotline: 1-877-472-8313
www.ct.gov/dob

Connecticut Fair Housing Center
Phone: (860) 247-4400
www.ctfairhousing.org

Housing Development Fund
Phone: (203) 798-6527
www.hdf-ct.org

Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury
Phone: (203) 753-1896
www.nhswaterbury.org

Community Action Center of Danbury
Phone: (203) 744-4700www.cacd-caa.org

According to Speaker Donovan, one goal of HB 6629 is to develop “a statewide law enforcement model policy that articulates best practices, for example, for responding to violations of restraining and protective orders.” He made his comments in testimony at a Judiciary Committee public hearing today. [The full text of Speaker Donovan’s testimony is below.]

Another goal, he said, is “to protect teen victims by clarifying that people of any age can request a restraining order to protect them from a partner who has subjected them to abuse.” He cited Department of Public Health statistics that show 10 percent of Connecticut teens were involved in a physically abusive relationship this past year, and 17 percent reported being an emotionally or verbally abusive relationship.

A third provision of the bill would amend the restraining order statute “to permit victims who have experienced a pattern of verbal intimidation, threatening or stalking to request a restraining order; providing restitution services to the families of victims like those provided for other crimes; and requiring offenders to surrender their firearms to police.”

A significant part of the bill would make changes to the bail bonds system “to strengthen the Insurance Department’s regulatory authority over surety bail bond agents and address the practice of ‘undercutting.’” Speaker Donovan cited “a number of serious and fatal domestic violence incidents - including the tragic murder of Shengyl Rasim last year in West Haven - where the practice of bail bond undercutting played a role. In these instances, bail bond agents illegally discounted the premium due on the defendants’ bonds and failed to charge the statutorily required amount. As a result, defendants post bond at rates lower than what the state requires and were released back into our communities, sometimes without any ‘cooling off’ period.”

The legislation also requires the Judicial Branch to develop additional domestic violence dockets within available appropriations, and makes several changes to the Family Violence Education Program (FVEP), a diversionary program

“We have met and listened to victims of domestic violence, prosecutors, and judges from around the state over the past few months,” said Rep. Mae Flexer (D-Killingly, Plainfield, Sterling), chair of the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence. “Based on their recommendations, we crafted comprehensive legislation that builds on the work we began last year reforming domestic violence laws. Today’s bill makes it easier for victims to get the protection they deserve and will also help prevent new incidents of domestic violence.”

“Finding ways to reduce domestic violence is an ongoing challenge, particularly when you consider that about 30 percent of criminal court dockets involve domestic violence,” said Rep. Gerald Fox III (D-Stamford), House Chairman of the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee and member of the Speaker’s Domestic Violence Task Force. “Providing more tools for law enforcement and enhancing victim services are a critical part of the equation and that is what this legislation aims to accomplish.”

The legislation and a bill that was voted out of the Human Services Committee last week comprise the 2011 legislative recommendations of the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence. The bipartisan task force has met with dozens of advocates, survivors, judges, prosecutors, attorneys, law enforcement officers, support service providers, and state agency staff. In 2010, this input helped shape the most sweeping changes to Connecticut’s domestic violence statutes since the Tracey Thurman Law passed in 1986.

“We have seen a lot of progress since 1986, but tragically, domestic violence continues to plague families in each one of our communities,” Speaker Donovan said.

"We continue to face tough economic times as we find ways to deal with our statewide budget deficit,” Donovan said. “In the meantime, we are reaching out to homeowners who are having difficulty with their mortgages. This program is an alternative to consider for those who want to keep their homes from being foreclosed.”

The forum highlighted resources and assistance available through the Connecticut Fair Housing Center. Mediation classes are offered across the state, with this evening's forum a brief introduction. Topics discussed ranged from home loan modification and negotiating a home exit strategy to housing counselors and demystifying the process. An 80-page manual which walks homeowners through the Connecticut foreclosure process, including all forms needed for court was distributed. To date, some 5000 owners have kept their homes thanks to this mediation process.

"Facing foreclosure is devastating to families, communities and the economy,” Taborsak stated. “We are trying to provide necessary tools to help homeowners that are facing this crisis. It is my hope that as more people learn about how this program works, that we will have many taking advantage of it.”

“Danbury is a great city to put down roots and buy a home. During this past recession families have been hit hard economically and found it difficult to make ends meet and pay their bills,” said Rep. Godfrey. “People facing foreclosure need the opportunity to keep their homes. Achieving the American dream of owning a home, only to lose it to the bank is a tragedy that profoundly impacts families and neighborhoods.”

"The Connecticut Fair Housing Center is the only non-profit organization in the state that provides legal assistance and resources, free of charge, to homeowners facing foreclosure," said CFHC Staff Attorney Jeffrey Gentes. "One in 13 Connecticut homeowners is either 90 days behind on their mortgage or in foreclosure. It is critical that we continue to support and educate people about resources like the Foreclosure Mediation Program so that we can prevent as many foreclosures as possible."

For assistance with foreclosure, please contact:

Connecticut Department of Banking
Foreclosure Assistance Hotline: 1-877-472-8313
www.ct.gov/dob

Connecticut Fair Housing Center
Phone: (860) 247-4400
www.ctfairhousing.org

Housing Development Fund
Phone: (203) 798-6527
www.hdf-ct.org

Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury
Phone: (203) 753-1896
www.nhswaterbury.org

Community Action Center of Danbury
Phone: (203) 744-4700
www.cacd-caa.org

Speaker Donovan received the invitation to the White House reception several weeks ago and is using the occasion as an opportunity to press the President and others about issues important to Connecticut.

“It’s always an honor to be invited to the White House by the President,” Speaker Donovan said. “But it’s also an opportunity to talk with him, Congressman Murphy and others face to face about some of the issues that are important to Connecticut - issues like the availability of federal funds for high speed rail and health care reform, for example.”

Speaker Donovan is paying for all trip expenses from personal funds.

The bill also would help individuals who experience trauma and trauma-related symptoms resulting from incidents of domestic violence. Speaker Donovan’s testimony was made before the Human Services Committee on HB 6588, AAC Domestic Violence and Child Trauma, and HB 6587, AAC the Department of Social Services’ Establishment of a Basic Health Program.

During his testimony, he also made a commitment to “continue working to identify funding to make up for the loss of stimulus money and preserve staffing levels at emergency shelters.”

He said with the help of federal stimulus funding, the FY 11 state budget included funding for 24/7 coverage at domestic violence shelters. “The presence of support staff can mean the difference between keeping a victim safe and that victim returning to his/her abuser and the cycle of violence. I appreciate the Governor’s consideration of this important issue and that his proposed budget maintains current state funding levels for domestic violence shelters.” The loss of stimulus funds in FY 12 will mean that some shelters will no longer be able to provide full staff coverage.

In 2010, the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence helped pass the most sweeping changes to Connecticut’s domestic violence statues since the Tracey Thurman’s Law was passed a quarter century ago. “We have seen a lot of progress since 1986,” Speaker Donovan said, “but tragically, domestic violence continues to plague families in all of our communities.”

The legislation, HB 6305, An Act Concerning the Implementation of the SustiNet Plan, was voted out of the Public Health Committee and referred to Insurance Committee for further consideration.

SustiNet is a comprehensive plan that lays out a framework for leveraging the bargaining power of the state’s health care purchasing to create a larger pool open to individuals and groups. The plan creates an infrastructure for a state-wide health care delivery system while containing costs and promoting preventive care.

“Today, SustiNet gets closer to becoming a reality,” Ritter said. “We have all put a lot of energy and work in this proposal and I am delighted to see our work paying off. I am confident that the Insurance committee will do everything they can to do support and advance this bill in the process.”

“The citizens of Connecticut deserve access to affordable, quality healthcare and we have been making key steps towards that goal,” Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan stated. “I commend Rep. Ritter and members of the Public Health Committee for their diligence in moving this bill forward.”

McLeod told the lawmakers that the center has achieved great success in its programs,
training students who are entering the job market for the first time and older ones who have been displaced and are looking for new careers.

“We have had incredible success,” McLeod said, pointing out that 90 percent of the center’s graduates have been placed in jobs and average more than $40,000 annually in their first year. The center is a key component of the college’s mission.

“Companies in our state have an ever-increasing need for skilled workers and Asnuntuck is providing the talent pipeline for them,” Kiner said.

The college program primarily trains machinists and welders, but has also recently added electro-mechanical training and medical device coursework. It is designed to meet the specific needs of Connecticut corporations, which have partnered with Asnuntuck.

“We have a critical need not only to create new jobs in manufacturing but also to train workers for the new positions,” Donovan said. “The Manufacturing Technology Center is helping greatly in meeting those needs.”

More than 1,000 students have graduated from Asnuntuck technology programs and transitioned successfully to the private sector with the requisite technology and academic abilities to enhance career goals and to benefit local industry, both short-term and long range.

Students spend time in the classroom, computer lab and the manufacturing center. The college has developed with the private sector a series of courses and certificate and degree programs designed to insure access and retention: learn the subject matter in the classroom, develop it further in the lab and produce it in the manufacturing center.

Students who complete an Associate in Science Degree in a program of manufacturing technology can apply for status as third year students in Central Connecticut State University’s School of Technology.

State House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan talks about job training as Manufacturing Technology Center Director Frank Gulluni (left), Instructor Ernest Canterbury (second from left) and Rep. David Kiner (right) listen. PHOTO BY JULIE COTNOIR

Martha McLeod, president of Asnuntuck Community College, explains the value of the college’s Manufacturing Technology Center to State House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (center) and Rep. David Kiner (left). PHOTO BY TYLER WILKINSON

“When Operation Fuel exhausted its winter fuel program funds, TEEG was there,” said Rep Rovero. “40-50 families in northeast Connecticut have benefitted from their hard work.”

“As we move through budget negotiations, we need to keep in mind our “safety net” facilities and all the good work they accomplish,” said Speaker Donovan. “Thousands of our most vulnerable utilize agencies like TEEG.”

“TEEG began many years ago when I served as first selectman of Thompson,” said Sen. Williams. “They do an excellent job helping people in these tough economic times.”

In 2010, TEEG delivered services to 2,433 individuals and 912 families in the Quiet Corner area. The support and services TEEG provide include:

• Food distribution
• Children’s services
• Parenting programs
• Senior services
• Operation Fuel assistance

TEEG secures funding from many different sources, including local, federal and state level governments as well as issue-specific foundations, and local community organizations. They also engage in fundraising from local individuals and businesses. TEEG is entering phase three of building a new facility, as their current one is not sufficient to cope with the needs demonstrated by the community.

The bill would permit municipalities, non-profits and small businesses to purchase employee health insurance through the state employee plan, creating a large pool of insured lives with increased bargaining power and lower costs.

“The pooling bill can provide families in our state with greater access to quality, affordable health care,” Speaker Donovan said. “Further, it can provide economic relief to the state, our towns, small businesses and non-profits at a time of need. This bill will provide relief from the unpredictable rate hikes employers experience from year to year by giving them access to the stability of the large state pool.”

Speaker Donovan cited a prescription drug pooling bill that became law last year that is being considered by several municipalities across the state as a cost saving measure. The City of Hartford, for example, expects to save $1.8 million in annual employee prescription costs by coming into the pool. The addition of Hartford employees to the state’s plan would also result in a savings of $6 million per year on the part of the state.

“In these challenging economic times, we have come to understand that health care is a vital economic issue,” Speaker Donovan said. “It is so for individuals and families across our state, and it also is so for municipalities and businesses large and small. Access to affordable health care can mean choosing to become an entrepreneur, the difference of hiring an employee or being able to retain experienced employees and provide quality services.”

“I am confident,” he told the Labor and Public Employees Committee in written testimony at a public hearing today, “that this committee and the legislative process can produce a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will meet both of those challenges.” [The full text of Speaker Donovan’s testimony is located here.]

“From a public health point of view, staying home from work when you or your children are sick is just common sense,” Speaker Donovan wrote to the committee. “While the majority of Connecticut employees do in fact have paid sick leave, the common sense option of staying home is difficult, if not impossible, for many working families if they lack access to paid sick time.”

Speaker Donovan cited a University of Chicago study that found that individuals without paid sick time are 15 percent more likely to go to work with a contagious disease than those who have paid sick leave. That study also found that 17 percent of respondents to a survey reported they or a family member had been disciplined or threatened with discipline for taking time off for personal or family illness.

“Even though surveys have shown broad public support for paid sick leave, a major stumbling block has been the perceived potential harm to business, particularly small businesses, if a measure like SB 913 was enacted,” Speaker Donovan wrote. “It is important to note that this measure only covers larger employers - those with fifty or more employees. And, in the first empirical study on effects of the first paid sick leave law passed in San Francisco four years ago, analysts found the fear of negative impacts on businesses to be mostly unfounded.”

“We made important progress in empowering victims, law enforcement personnel and service providers with groundbreaking legislation a year ago,” said Donovan. “We still must do more to put a stop to these horrific crimes. I am encouraged that this task force is doing everything it can to prevent family violence and ensure that victims of domestic violence are receiving the help they need.”

“We have looked at domestic violence from a variety of angles and today’s recommendations show real breadth and depth,” said Flexer. “With one in every four women experiencing domestic violence in their lifetime, we need to continue working together to improve both protection for victims and the overall prevention of domestic violence.”

Chief among the group’s recommendations is a series of changes to the judicial system, including reforming the bail bond process to improve the state’s ability to regulate bail bond agents and professional bondsmen to stop the practice of “undercutting.”

There have been a number of serious and fatal domestic violence incidents—including the tragic murder of Shengyl Rasim last year in West Haven—where the practice of bail bond undercutting played a role. In these instances, bail bond agents illegally discounted the premium due on the defendants’ bonds and failed to charge for the amount they are statutorily required to charge. As a result, defendants post bond at rates lower than what the state requires and are released back into the community, sometimes without any “cooling off” period.

In 2010, Selami Ozdemir shot his wife, Shengyl Rasim, as she held her crying infant in her arms and their young son slept in the next room shortly after being released on bond following his second arrest for a domestic violence offense in a four month period. Ozdemir, despite having his bail set at $25,000, was bailed out immediately by a bail bondsman without Ozdemir giving any monetary compensation to the bail bondsman.

“With about 30 percent of criminal court dockets involving domestic violence, reducing its incidence is an ongoing challenge,” said State Representative Gerald Fox III (D-Stamford), who serves as House Chair of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Domestic Violence Task Force. “These recommendations build upon the great progress accomplished last year with a focus on both law enforcement and improving victim services.”

The task force has also heard concerns about a lack of timely response from law enforcement to restraining order violations. To improve response time in these cases, the task force is proposing that a Statewide Law Enforcement Model Policy be implemented for the response to incidents of domestic violence.

The taskforce is also advocating improvements to the current restraining order laws. Among their recommendations are to permit teens to secure restraining orders against their abusive teen dating partners. Currently adults can secure restraining orders against abusive intimate partners, but minors can only secure orders against abusive adults.

“The issue of domestic violence crosses socio-economic and ethnic boundaries as well as party lines. I'm proud to join with others in the legislature in identifying ongoing problems with the domestic violence laws and in efforts to better assist victims and their families. I believe the Task Force has put forward significant recommendations to solve these flaws in the law," said State Representative Clark Chapin (R- New Milford).

Exposure to family violence has a lasting and traumatic impact on children, and recent studies have shown a strong link between untreated traumatic exposure and cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, lifelong mental health difficulties, incarceration, unemployment, violence and early death. In response to this, the task force would also like to incorporate trauma-informed care principles in the treatment of domestic violence victims to prevent chronic physical and behavioral health consequences and avoid the costs of managing chronic illness later in life.

The recommendations arose from a series of meetings and public hearings the task force held to hear from domestic violence advocacy groups, survivors, law enforcement professionals including prosecutors and judges, and others about the next steps the legislature could take to augment the domestic violence reforms enacted last year.

“I am very pleased with the accomplishments made by the Domestic Violence Task Force this session,” said State Representative Terrie Wood (R-Darien). “These recommendations will better prepare both the judicial branch and health care professionals to handle these sensitive situations in a positive and productive manner. I hope that the General Assembly gives these ideas serious consideration.”

The task force, created by Speaker Donovan, was responsible for introducing and leading passage of a three-part package of reforms during the 2010 session that led to the most sweeping changes to the state’s domestic violence statutes in almost 25 years. Additional information about the task force can be found on its web site at: www.housedems.ct.gov/DV.

City officials are expected to apply for up to $1 million in funding that would be available for Meriden.

“As the New Haven-Springfield rail line comes closer to reality, it is important that Meriden is fully prepared to take advantage of its benefits,” said House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), a long-time and leading proponent of the high speed rail project. “These funds would be greatly beneficial to a project that will mean jobs, a cleaner environment and less congested roads for greater Meriden and all of Connecticut.”

“Our state highways are being over utilized and cannot sustain the ever-increasing volume of vehicles,” Rep. Emil “Buddy” Altobello (D-Meriden) said. “These funds are crucial for the development of viable transportation alternatives to our crammed roads.”

“It is important that our state improve how we get people from place to place, and our Meriden train station is an important part of the solution,” Rep. Catherine Abercrombie (D-Meriden) said. “Economic development, jobs and overall quality of life hinge on a robust transportation system. Investment in high speed rail is long overdue and I look forward to jump starting this project.”

“Winter presents special challenges for everyone, but for many seniors on fixed incomes being able to afford their energy bills can be overwhelming,” said McCrory. “Programs such as Operation Fuel exist solely to help people stay warm and keep the lights on, yet not every one knows about it or how to get assistance.”

The lawmakers were joined by representatives of Operation Fuel and local community fuel banks, who explained what type of assistance is available and where to call for help. Operation Fuel is a private non-profit organization that helps families in need pay for home energy costs.

“Energy assistance is a critical part of our public safety net, and our responsibility includes making sure people know what help is available,” said Ritter. “The Northend Senior Center is a great place to bring people together to hear about the various assistance programs that are out there.”

Operation Fuel provides grants up to $350 to households with incomes up to 60% of the state’s median income. This translates into a maximum yearly income of $31,712 for a single person and $60,988 for a family of four.

“The combination of the frigid temperatures and tough economy has made it more important than ever that we fight to protect these programs for our seniors,” said Deputy Speaker Marie Lopez Kirkley-Bey (D-Hartford) “No one, least of all seniors, should have to choose between food and heat.”

“Programs that assist people in need are useless if they are not utilized by those they were meant to help,” said Representative Kelvin Roldán (D-Hartford). “It is important not only to support our constituents, but to make sure they know what is available to them. I thank my Hartford colleagues and Speaker Chris Donovan for his steadfast commitment to our communities.”

“As energy costs continue to rise, our vulnerable citizens, many of whom are seniors struggle to pay their electricity and heating bills,” said Speaker Donovan. “There are a number of programs available to help, but people need to hear about them and that is why we are here today.”

There are three local community fuel banks in Hartford serving Operation Fuel clients: Three Angels Adventist on Woodland Street, the Community Renewal Team on Wethersfield Avenue and the Salvation Army on Washington Street. For more information call 860-243-2345.

The families have been aided by The Connection, Inc.’s Supportive Housing for Families Program helping families served by the Connecticut Department on Children and Families to overcome obstacles and retain or even regain custody of their children by providing access to safe, quality, affordable and permanent housing.

“Nobody likes to see children separated from their families. Everyone suffers, and it’s always extremely difficult to deal with this issue,” Hewett said. “However, I am pleased to see that there is hope for families who are faced with this risk and I commend the Supportive Housing for Families program and their diligence in helping out families in our community who are in great need of their services.”

“The most emotionally stabilizing factor for children is having their families in close proximity. This is more important than any other challenge or adversity they face,” Speaker Donovan said. “Protecting and keeping families together is vitally important for raising the well adjusted and productive adults of tomorrow.”

In partnership with various state agencies, community, civic and faith organizations, The Connection, Inc.’s Supportive Housing for Families Program is designed to meet the needs of families that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

He also said that the economic issues posed by rising health care costs are a significant obstacle to business growth in Connecticut.

Speaker Donovan’s comments came in a morning press conference at the Legislative Office Building and at a public hearing before members of the three legislative committees - Insurance and Real Estate, Human Services and Public Health.[Speaker Donovan’s complete testimony.]

There, he made comments about four bills currently before the legislature:

• CT Healthcare Partnership (HB 6308) - Speaker Donovan has been the chief champion of this legislation which twice passed the General Assembly but was vetoed by Governor M. Jodi Rell. “It is more important than ever now,” he said, “because municipal health care costs have continued to spike each year - far beyond the rate of inflation. And heads of businesses continue to tell us that rising health care costs are limiting their ability to expand and grow. Access to affordable healthcare can mean hiring an employee, choosing to become an entrepreneur, or being able to retain experienced employees and provide quality services.”

• SustiNet (HB 6305) - “This program changes the way the state delivers healthcare,” Speaker Donovan said, “and offers new insurance choices to non-profits, businesses and individuals. SustiNet builds on the strength of healthcare pooling to increase purchasing power, lower costs and expand access to people of all health histories. It will maximize the potential of federal reform, spend state healthcare dollars more efficiently, improve quality, and offer employees and families a new health insurance choice that reforms healthcare delivery and slows cost growth throughout the entire insurance market.”

• Federal Health Reform Implementation: Exchange (HB 6323) - Speaker Donovan said this bill “helps individuals and small businesses access more options, is good for businesses because employers will spend less time and money buying their health insurance - -they can go directly online and compare apples to apples. Too often small and municipal employers aren’t given choices - with the exchange they can see the universe of options, understand them, and purchase them online at their convenience.”

• State Prescription Drug Purchasing (HB 6322) - Speaker Donovan said, “This bill is another great example of using the size of the state employee pool to leverage greater discounts for other healthcare purchasers. HB 6322 would enable the Comptroller’s Office to amend its existing prescription drug purchasing contract to include the Medicaid, Husky, ConnPACE and Charter Oak programs. The Comptroller’s office estimates that by implementing this innovative streamlining measure, the state will save $66.5 million annually—without harming prescription coverage for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.”

"While Connecticut navigates out of our tough economic times, we don't want to leave behind homeowners who are still having some difficulty," said Speaker Donovan. "This action plan gives people the power to help themselves and is a win/win for those involved."

The forum highlighted resources and assistance available through the Connecticut Fair Housing Center. Mediation classes are offered across the state, with this evening's forum a brief introduction. Topics discussed ranged from home loan modification and negotiating a home exit strategy to housing counselors and demystifying the process. An 80-page manual which walks homeowners through the Connecticut foreclosure process, including all forms needed for court was distributed. To date, some 5000 owners have kept their homes thanks to this mediation process.

"For most homeowners, mediation is the first opportunity they have to meet face to face with a representative from their mortgage servicer," said Rep. Butler, who chairs the legislature's Housing Committee. "One of my legislative goals is to have mediation happen before any litigation."

"Waterbury is a city of distinct neighborhoods which we must work to maintain and allow to flourish. The time to assist struggling homeowners is before they get into trouble with their mortgages and this is what we must focus on," said Rep. Berger. "We need to take a proactive approach in order to stave off foreclosures while exploring all possible options to keep people in their homes. Foreclosures, both residential and commercial, add to city wide blight, harm all of our neighborhoods and erode our quality of life."

"The Connecticut Fair Housing Center is the only non-profit organization in the state that provides legal assistance and resources, free of charge, to homeowners facing foreclosure," said CFHC Staff Attorney Jeffrey Gentes. "One in 13 Connecticut homeowners is either 90 days behind on their mortgage or in foreclosure. It is critical that we continue to support and educate people about resources like the Foreclosure Mediation Program so that we can prevent as many foreclosures as possible."

Speaker Donovan said legislation passed in recent years under the Human Services Committee leadership of state representatives Peter Villano (D-Hamden) and Toni Walker (D-New Haven) would have provided residents and the state with similar benefits earlier but implementation was stymied by the Department of Social Services. He said the legislature anticipated savings of $60 million through a change in health care administration of Medicaid programs, and another $12 million by moving the HUSKY B program to the ASO model. Additional savings could be achieved through an enhanced federal match on the Money Follows the Person initiative.

“With new leadership in the executive branch, the people of Connecticut can begin to realize some of the real benefits of health care reform,” he said. “Our goals in health care have always been clear - quality care at affordable costs. Working together, our residents can now look forward to better care while the state realizes substantial savings.”

“Battling MCOs over coverage can be daunting and overwhelming for families,” Rep. Walker said. “For years, we have been working to provide families a more comfortable health care experience. And that is achieved through consistency - having a familiar doctor to rely on for your health care. With the ASO and PCCM model, you will deal with your doctor and your children’s pediatrician, not a faceless insurance company.”