Collection of the GRT, which is a percentage of the wholesale price, would be capped whenever the price reaches $3.00 in the wholesale price per gallon or above.

The bill also contains provisions to protect consumers from profiteering and price gouging by big oil companies.

SB 457 An Act Concerning A Cap On The Petroleum Products Gross Earnings Tax And Penalties For Abnormal Price Increases In Certain Petroleum Products, passed the General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support and heads to the governor’s office to be signed into law.

The legislation comes at a time when gasoline prices are climbing daily and is designed to bring consumers relief, especially before the heavy summer driving season begins.

“In these tough economic times, we must do whatever we can to stretch people’s hard-earned dollars and lessen the pain at the pump,” said Rep. Janowski who spoke at the original announcement of the legislation. “I want to also commend House and Senate Leadership for including similar protections in the legislation for home heating oil which is not subjected to any taxes but has been selling at a higher price than gasoline at the pumps.”

Provisions of the bill include:

• Ensuring oil companies recognize the cap and do not increase their prices as if the cap doesn’t exist as this would constitute a CT Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) violation.

• Amends the gas price gouging law so that intensely spiking wholesale gasoline prices are part of the definition of abnormal market disruptions. The bill adds an automatic trigger, that if wholesale prices spike by 15% within a 90 day period, the price gouging protections go into effect for at least one month.

• Legislatively declares an “abnormal market disruption” upon passage for a set period of 90 days in anticipation of further wholesale price spikes.

• Grants the Consumer Protection Commissioner the authority to impose CUTPA fines of up to $10,000 upon large gasoline wholesalers and distributors who are in violation of profiteering statutes.

• Ensures that similar profiteering protections are in place for home heating oil, which was selling for $3.389/gallon wholesale on March 19, over $4.00/gallon retail, and is not subject to the gross receipts tax.

Announcing gas relief initiatives at the State Capitol are:  Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams, Speaker of the House Chris Donovan, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey and Vernon State Representative Claire Janowski.

“Price relief at the pump is a top priority,” Rep. Janowski said. “Current pricing creates a hardship for all Connecticut citizens and particularly hurts those on fixed incomes and the working poor who are struggling to make ends meet.”

The Democrats’ plan:

• Caps the gross receipts tax (GRT) on motor fuels at $3.00/per gallon wholesale, upon passage.

• Prohibits oil wholesalers and distributers (those who pay the gross receipts tax) from passing on anything purporting to be based on the tax for the portion of any sales price over $3.00 per gallon.
• Any such overcharging a Connecticut Unfair Trade Practice Act (CUTPA) violation.

• Amends the petroleum profiteering statute, C.G.S. § 42-234 et seq. (“abnormal market disruptions”) to include an automatic trigger based on extreme wholesale price increases, for price gouging protections to go into effect.
• Puts everyone in supply chain on notice of serious penalties for increasing their profit margins during such disruptions.

• Legislatively declares an “abnormal market disruption” upon passage for a set period of one month in anticipation of further wholesale price spikes.

• The wholesale price at the Port of New Haven is up $.13 since 3/1/12;
• The spike has not hit the pumps, with average retail prices rising only $.02 cents since 3/1/12 from $3.99/gal to $4.01/gal.

Rep. Janowski, a speaker at the announcement, also commended legislative leadership for including home heating oil in the legislation as home heating oil which is based on diesel fuel has spiked during the winter making it unaffordable as a source for heating homes.

“There is no sound reasoning as to why home heating oil should be priced higher than gasoline at the pumps given that it is not subject to either federal or state taxes,” Rep. Janowski said.

Home heating oil averaged anywhere from $3.69 to $3.99 per gallon this heating season at a time when gasoline had peaked at around $3.59 per gallon.

In speaking with the group, Rep. Janowski focused on the importance of student ideas, citing the idea brought forward by another class from Center Road School in winning the designation of the European Mantis as “state insect.”

Janowski said, “Even though those students were too young to vote, they made a difference and their idea lives on as part of Connecticut history.”

In 1977 the students’ idea was approved by the General Assembly and the “European Mantis” was named state insect. The students testified on behalf of their idea and the bill was enthusiastically signed by our first woman Governor, Ella Grasso, who presented the students with a Governor's Proclamation for their good work. The plaque continues to be displayed at Center Road School today.

Harmless to humans, the mantis feeds on aphids, flies, grasshoppers, small caterpillars and moths. The family of Mantids, a protected species, is beneficial to the environment and friendly to agriculture.

Rep. Janowski routinely mentions the Center Road Students’ success as an accomplishment that all young people can relate to and emulate. 

Rep. Janowski said, “I cite this wonderful achievement as an example of what young minds can do and that their voices can make a difference.”

The current Center Road students were enthusiastic and engaged Rep. Janowski with a number of questions including a discussion about the State Animal, the Sperm Whale as a protected species, how old the State Hero, Nathan Hale was when he died and the origin of the State Seal.

Rep. Jack Hennessy, Rep. Claire Janowski, Veterans Commissioner Linda Schwartz, Sen. Paul Doyle
and Rep. Betty Boukus load the van that will deliver gifts to the Veterans Home with help of
three special student elves.

“It’s important to thank everyone for participating in our collection for Connecticut’s homeless veterans,” Rep. Janowski said. “All our veterans deserve our gratitude and support every day for their service to our country and this is a wonderful way to show our appreciation.”

The approximately 400 veterans residing at the Rocky Hill facility continue to be in need of many basic personal items and this collection helps provide these necessities. In addition to personal items, gift cards and clothes, this year’s donations included Wii video game consoles and a flat-screen TV. After the press conference, the donations were loaded into a van for delivery to the Veteran’s Home.

This year, Rep. Janowski gave special thanks at the event to the Rockville Elks Lodge #1359 for their significant donation of clothing to the collection praising the Rockville Lodge for their numerous events and fund-raising efforts to help our veterans, active servicemen and their families throughout the year. Donations were also provided by lawmakers, legislative staff, visitors to the Capitol and many others.

Since 1863, the residential facility at the Veterans’ Home and Hospital has offered a place to live and a continuum of rehabilitative services designed to prepare veterans for their return to independent living in the community.

• ConnPACE
• Dial-a-Ride transportation
• Medicare Savings Program
• Property tax credit and rental rebate

The forum will be the 11th Rep. Janowski has held on legislative issues for seniors. “We spend a lot of time each session working on legislation that will positively impact seniors. So it is important to reach out to update the community on any changes. This meeting at the Vernon Senior Center has become a yearly tradition,” Rep. Janowski said.

Time will be reserved for a question-and-answer period, and refreshments will be served.

For anyone in need of a ride, Dial-a-Ride transportation is available by calling Hockanum Valley Community Council for arrangements at 860-870-7940. For further information, please contact the Vernon Senior Center at 860-870-3680 or Rep. Janowski’s Capitol office at 860-240-0452.

Governor Malloy and Rep. Janowski addressing questions from Northeast School 3rd grade students
at the State Capitol.

The group of 50 students toured the House and Senate Chambers and learned about the history of the Capitol.

“It was a pleasure to have these inquisitive and knowledgeable students at the Capitol,” Rep. Janowski said. “They asked very educated questions and were very surprised and excited to meet the governor and lieutenant governor.”

After being notified by Rep. Janowski of the students’ visit, Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman both stopped by the Senate Chamber for a brief question and answer session.

Rep. Janowski said, “It was an unexpected treat for the class and thoughtful of the governor and lt. governor to make the time to stop by given their busy schedule.”

The legislation arose from Rockville General Hospital’s decision to close its maternity ward. Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN), the parent company of Rockville General, was able to quietly move forward with its plan because a change in state law, requested by the former Governor Jodi Rell, eliminated OHCA’s oversight authority.

“I am very grateful the Senate approved this legislation,” Rep. Janowski said. “We are protecting patients, communities and the oversight role of the Office of Health Care Access by requiring a hospital seeking to terminate inpatient or outpatient services to file for OHCA review.”

Rep. Janowski, who drafted the original version of the legislation, worked with Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) to make sure the Senate acted on the legislation before midnight – the constitutionally mandated end of session.

The bill included input from the Connecticut Hospital Association as well as outpatient surgical facilities. It restores Office of Health Care Access oversight for termination of service requests giving OHCA discretion to hold a public hearing or members of the community to request a hearing as allowed under the CON process. Rep. Janowski noted the restoration of transparency assures the local community and facility clients are informed of any potential service terminations.

HARTFORD — Hospitals and outpatient surgery clinics would have to get the state’s permission before they could eliminate a program or service under a bill that Wednesday passed the House of Representatives.

Rep. Claire L. Janowski, D-Vernon, introduced the measure after Rockville General Hospital closed its maternity ward last year — with little state oversight. It made the move under a newly changed state law that meant the hospital’s parent company, the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, had only to send a letter to the state announcing its plans.

The bill reverses that change, requiring hospitals and outpatient facilities to apply for a Certificate of Need from the state Office of Health Care Access. The application process means the state must sign off on such moves, and gives residents the opportunity to force a public hearing on it.

“What this does is make the process transparent so that community and town officials know what’s going on,” Janowski said.

The measure passed in a 93-53 vote that mostly followed party lines. Republican Reps. Christopher Davis of Ellington, Penny Bacchiochi of Somers, William Aman of South Windsor, and Timothy J. Ackert of Coventry joined majority Democrats to support the measure. Rep. Geoff Luxenberg, D-Manchester, opposed it.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

Janowski said the measure is important because it restores state oversight to an issue the state should have some say over — public health.

The Certificate of Need process means hospitals and medical practices must prove there’s a need in the community before adding services or certain equipment. They also have to prove they wouldn’t harm access to health services by eliminating a program or equipment.

When Rockville General announced in October it would shut its maternity programs before the end of last year, many feared other services at the hospital would follow. The state’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women questioned what it would mean if hospitals ended other programs that care primarily for women.

On Wednesday, most Republican representatives opposed the bill, saying hospitals should be able to cut programs they no longer can afford to continue. “This places an undue burden on the hospitals,” Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, said.

Hospitals originally opposed the measure, and pushed for the changes to apply also to outpatient ambulatory clinics, James Iacobellis, a lobbyist for the Connecticut Hospital Association, said. “The level playing field is important,” Iacobellis said.

But he also described the measure as relatively minor because law that it reverses only took effect Oct. 1.

“This went back to a process we had, except for a small window of time,” he said of the bill.

The Connecticut Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers didn’t return a request for comment.

The change to hospital oversight was inserted into the budget bill the Democrat-controlled legislature and then-Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, passed last year. Janowski voted for the bill, but later said she didn’t realize the provision had been inserted into the bill.

Current law still requires a Certificate of Need for some changes. Hospitals and outpatient medical offices would need state approval if they wanted to eliminate an emergency department or mental health and substance abuse services, for example.

Showcasing the beauty of our town is important. I would like to commend the Rockville Downtown Association, the Friends of the Hockanum River Linear Park Committee of Vernon, Inc. and the CT Main Street Center for working together in securing a $10,000 beautification grant to benefit our town.

Their commitment to the beauty of the historic Hockanum Falls behind Amerbelle and Anacoil is admirable. Opening a clear view or “lookout point” for public viewing of the falls is a great idea and a wonderful attraction for residents and visitors alike. Being familiar with the good work of all three organizations, I have no doubt that the project will come to fruition and will be of great benefit to our town for many years to come.

I applaud the effort and congratulate them all for working together to make it happen. It’s a big step in reaching the goal of making downtown Rockville a destination for the surrounding region.

It is also important to note that the work of the Rockville Downtown Association (RDA) continues to be an important and vital link for ongoing improvements to downtown Rockville. The RDA vision is as important today as it was when I was fortunate enough to work with Mayor Steve Marcham in winning the Connecticut Main Street Program Designation for the formation of the RDA over eleven years ago.

Having further served with Mayor Marcham during his presidency of the RDA Board for many years, I can recall a number of enthusiastic discussions about the potential for “lookout points” for public viewing of water falls as attraction points to downtown and possibly beyond. I’m pleased to see that the wonderful idea was not forgotten and has been actively pursued under the leadership of new RDA Executive Director, Cliff Edwards.

I had the pleasure of working with Cliff on the Bicentennial Committee and know how committed he is in making things happen no matter how time consuming or difficult the task may be. He will do a great job and will work well with others for the benefit of our town.

The acquisition of the Falls Project Grant is a great example of successful positive collaboration and I would like to again commend the Rockville Downtown Association, the Friends of the Hockanum River Linear Park Committee of Vernon, Inc. and the CT Main Street Center for working together in securing the grant.

It is, however, much more than that. It is the spark, the beginning of a vision that is important to carry out and move forward step-by-step for the benefit of our town.

Showcasing the beauty of our town is important. I would like to commend the Rockville Downtown Association, the Friends of the Hockanum River Linear Park Committee of Vernon, Inc. and the CT Main Street Center for working together in securing a $10,000 beautification grant to benefit our town.

Their commitment to the beauty of the historic Hockanum Falls behind Amerbelle and Anacoil is admirable. Opening a clear view or “lookout point” for public viewing of the falls is a great idea and a wonderful attraction for residents and visitors alike. Being familiar with the good work of all three organizations, I have no doubt that the project will come to fruition and will be of great benefit to our town for many years to come.

I applaud the effort and congratulate them all for working together to make it happen. It’s a big step in reaching the goal of making downtown Rockville a destination for the surrounding region.

It is also important to note that the work of the Rockville Downtown Association (RDA) continues to be an important and vital link for ongoing improvements to downtown Rockville. The RDA vision is as important today as it was when I was fortunate enough to work with Mayor Steve Marcham in winning the Connecticut Main Street Program Designation for the formation of the RDA over eleven years ago.

Having further served with Mayor Marcham during his presidency of the RDA Board for many years, I can recall a number of enthusiastic discussions about the potential for “lookout points” for public viewing of water falls as attraction points to downtown and possibly beyond. I’m pleased to see that the wonderful idea was not forgotten and has been actively pursued under the leadership of new RDA Executive Director, Cliff Edwards.

I had the pleasure of working with Cliff on the Bicentennial Committee and know how committed he is in making things happen no matter how time consuming or difficult the task may be. He will do a great job and will work well with others for the benefit of our town.

The acquisition of the Falls Project Grant is a great example of successful positive collaboration and I would like to again commend the Rockville Downtown Association, the Friends of the Hockanum River Linear Park Committee of Vernon, Inc. and the CT Main Street Center for working together in securing the grant.

It is, however, much more than that. It is the spark, the beginning of a vision that is important to carry out and move forward step-by-step for the benefit of our town.

Rep. Janowski said, “It was a pleasure to be a part of the YMCA’s Family Fun Night and see the children so engaged in the story and characters.”

Family Fun Night was part of the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child and included activities such as bowling, music, crafts, science exploration and reading.

“We want children to see that reading and learning can be fun and this was clearly an enjoyable event for both parents and their children,” Rep. Janowski said.

Close to 200 children and parents attended and participated in the event.

Members of the committee work to identify the impact of emerging transportation trends on the state of Connecticut and across the country.

“As a member of NCSL’s Transportation Committee, I will be able to give our state a stronger voice on the national policy level while also working on innovative solutions to our traffic congestion and transportation issues at home as a member of the state Transportation Committee,” Rep. Janowski said.

NCSL with offices in Washington, DC and Denver, Colorado, is a bipartisan organization that provides research, technical assistance and the exchange of ideas between state policy makers.

House Speaker Donovan said, “As a senior member of our Transportation Committee, I am confident that Claire will work successfully with other state leaders to put the best ideas and solutions into practice.”

Rep. Janowski was pleased to present Commissioner Donald J. DeFronzo of the Department of Administrative Services with a legislative citation award on behalf of the Italian-American Caucus membership.

“Commissioner DeFronzo has given great service to the State of Connecticut and its people,” Rep. Janowski said of the former State Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee. “I knew Don as a member of the Transportation Committee and together we worked on many issues that positively impacted Vernon and eastern Connecticut.”

As House Chair of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee, Rep. Janowski thoroughly interviewed Commissioner DeFronzo before he was confirmed as part of the Malloy Administration.

“Commissioner DeFronzo’s resume of accomplishments and his extensive community involvement are impressive. We are proud of his Italian-American heritage, his ongoing interest in fostering its history and culture as well as all the great work he continues to do for the people of our state,” Rep. Janowski said.

Other honorees at the St. Joseph’s Day Celebration included former Norwalk Mayor Frank Esposito and Attorney Carlo Forzani.

The Italian-American Legislative Education Fund Caucus is a non-profit organization established to foster the heritage, history and culture of Italian-Americans by supporting Italian studies programs at institutions of higher learning and recognizing Italian-Americans that have made a positive difference in the state through their work, community involvement or philanthropic contributions. The group plans a number of fundraising events throughout the year.

Rep. Janowski and Ms. Clements discussed current programs for accessing dental care including state HUSKY children's insurance, local clinics, and school-based clinics across the state, and the importance of increasing awareness about the long-term benefits of dental care for children at a very early age. Indicators are that poor oral care at a very early age can affect a child's ability to learn and preventive or early treatment of potential problems can make a big difference in school performance.

“My experience at the Capitol was great,” Ms. Clements said. “I want to thank Rep. Janowski for taking the time to meet with me and discuss the important issue of dental care for pre-school children. Our meeting allowed me to apply what I have learned in school to address real community problems.”

Vernon parents without dental insurance for their children can learn more about HUSKY at www.huskyhealth.com. Information on the dental clinic at Vernon Community Health Services can be found at www.ehchc.org.

Among them were Republican Mayor Jason McCoy and state Rep. Claire Janowski, D-Vernon, who read from the works of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, to kindergarten students at the Maple Street School on Wednesday.

During a schoolwide assembly, Janowski and McCoy reinforced the importance of knowing how to read as the foundation of learning, then settled in with the kindergarteners to read from the works of Dr. Seuss, author of many young-reader favorites, including: "Green Eggs and Ham" and "The Cat in the Hat."

Read Across America Day is an initiative of the National Education Association intended to encourage children to read. It is observed annually on March 2, the day Geisel was born in 1904 in Springfield, Mass. The NEA is the largest public-sector union in the United States with a stated membership of 3.2 million public school teachers.

—Joseph A. O'Brien Jr.

In addressing the students, Rep. Janowski stressed the importance of reading on one’s own or by having a parent, sibling or guardian read to them.

“Both ways are great for developing listening, learning skills and the discovery of new things,” Rep. Janowski said.

Rep. Janowski also pointed out that reading is really a fun thing to do indicating that her own children made a game out of reading street and business signs during car trips, using their imagination to determine what the signs meant or represented. “They were very creative as all children are and got very immersed in the letters and symbols. It really proved to be an enjoyable learning experience for everyone,” Rep. Janowski said.

The school assembly was attended by children from classes in all grade levels, many of whom were recognized with certificates and trophies for various accomplishments.

Following the assembly, Rep. Janowski read a book by Dr. Seuss to a group of inquisitive students in Mrs. Bickford’s kindergarten class. Mrs. Bickford was recently recognized as 2010 Teacher of the Year by the Vernon Board of Education.

“The children got very immersed in the story and the characters and actively participated with questions and sounds. They made it fun for me,” Rep. Janowski said.

The Assembly was the first of many events planned at Maple Street School and the Vernon School System to foster and encourage reading during Read Across American Week. Read Across America is a National Education Association reading motivation program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2nd, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

The legislation would require the consumer credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and Trans-Union) to contact consumers and provide them with the option of receiving a free copy of their credit reports when the agency receives eight credit inquiries pertaining to the consumer within a 12 month period, or the agency has added negative information to a consumer’s file.

“The consumer alert would provide timely notice about a potential issue impacting a consumer’s credit score and provide immediate opportunity for corrective action. The bill is based on a current law in Colorado which has been working very well,” testified Rep. Janowski, who introduced the bill.

Rep. Janowski noted the increase in fraudulent collection claims and collection company abuses as well as the federal elimination of the seven day grace period for payments make this legislation timely and vital.

Claire Janowski was elected State Representative in 2000 to serve the 56th District of Rockville & Vernon. Claire is currently the House Chairwoman of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee and also serves on the Transportation and Higher Education committees.

HARTFORD — Hospital officials on Wednesday urged state lawmakers not to adopt a bill that would increase regulation when hospitals want to eliminate a program or service.

The bill was proposed by Rep. Claire L. Janowski, D-Vernon, after Rockville General Hospital’s parent company, the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, eliminated the hospital’s maternity unit with limited state oversight.

The bill has since been modified by the legislature’s Public Health Committee and so far, six other lawmakers have signed on in support, including Sen. Tony Guglielmo, R-Stafford, and Rep. Timothy J. Ackert, R-Coventry.

The measure would force hospitals to undergo an oversight process called a Certificate of Need — a course of action required of them before state law changed in October.

“We kept it as unobtrusive as possible,” Janowski said. “Prior to October of last year, this was part of the process to begin with.”

Bill regulating closings of maternity wards, other programs

Her measure has the support of nursing unions and the state’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, also filed a letter in support.

But hospitals don’t want the state to revert to the old rules. Doing so would restore a burdensome review process, drive up costs and duplication of services in communities, and put an unfair burden on hospitals because the process doesn’t apply to other health care providers, they say.

“This process was overly burdensome and made little sense,” the Connecticut Hospital Association said in a letter to lawmakers.

The old rules didn’t allow for “the modern pace of health care advances coupled with the need to allow health care providers to budget and plan their business strategies in as nimble a fashion as reasonably possible,” the letter said.

Under the old law, hospitals had to get a Certificate of Need from the state, showing a need in the community, before adding programs, services, and certain equipment. Hospital officials also had to prove people wouldn’t lose access to care if the hospital removed a program.

That was undone by a measure in the legislature’s 11th-hour budget bill that was adopted in May. It removed the Certificate of Need process unless the hospital sought to eliminate emergency rooms, cardiac services, or mental health services. That change became law in October.

The new bill allows hospitals to add programs without the Certificate of Need, but requires the process when a hospital wants to get rid of a program.

Janowski said the important part of the process is that it requires more public notice before a hospital wants to downsize, and allows for the state or residents to demand a public hearing.

“I don’t know why hospitals wouldn’t want the public to be aware,” Janowski said.

She also discounts claims that the process is burdensome. The state health department, which oversees the process, can work to make it more efficient, she said.

ECHN President and CEO Peter J. Karl acknowledged Janowski’s bill is a direct response to Rockville General Hospital’s closure of its maternity ward. But he contends hospitals already consider all of the issues the state is interested in before they make a change.

“Ensuring patient access to care within our community is a primary responsibility of the ECHN board, and the addition or termination of any service is not taken lightly,” Karl said.

ECHN started directing pregnant women seeking services at Rockville General to Manchester Memorial Hospital, which it also owns. The two hospitals are 10 miles apart, Karl said.

The company also would have gone through the Certificate of Need process successfully if it had to, he said.

Officials at other hospitals — including Hartford Hospital and St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford — wrote letters to lawmakers urging them to reject the change. They contend the measure places an unfair burden on hospitals because non-hospital health care facilities aren’t covered by it.

Nursing unions in Danbury and New London support Janowski’s bill. It would give them and others in the community adequate notice and input before hospitals end programs and services, union representatives say.

And the state’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women also filed a letter in support.

It’s concerned about women’s access to care, and says the Certificate of Need process has allowed the commission to intervene and reach a compromise in certain cases in which a hospital wanted to eliminate a service.

“The bill does not introduce any new changes or restrictions, it simply restores oversight that was inadvertently eliminated when a hospital termination of inpatient and outpatient service request was removed from the certificate of need process requirement last year,” testified Rep. Janowski.

The legislation arose from Rockville General Hospital’s plan to close its maternity ward. ECHN, the parent company of Rockville General, was able to quietly move forward with its plan because a recent change in state law, requested by the Department of Public Health, eliminated OHCA’s oversight authority.

 “The bill restores the public hearing process that should never have been eliminated and properly restores OHCA’s responsibility to fairly review such requests with public input and restores accountability in the decision to approve or not approve,” Rep. Janowski said.

Rep. Janowski drafted an early version of the legislation that has since become a committee bill.  The legislation has been endorsed by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women; Danbury Nurses’ Union; and the Lawrence and Memorial Hospital RN’s, AFT Local 5049.

Claire Janowski was elected State Representative in 2000 to serve the 56th District of Rockville & Vernon. Claire is currently the House Chairwoman of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee and also serves on the Transportation and Higher Education committees.