Rep. Billie Miler said state budget adjustments will also provide Stamford with over $900,000 in new funding for educational programs.

Recognizing the value of early childhood education, the bill (SB 458) creates 1,000 new pre-K School Readiness seats, focused in high need, low performing communities. It also creates a pilot program to enhance literacy for students in kindergarten through third grade. The state Department of Education is also tasked with developing reading assessments so children that are reading deficient are identified early so they may get the help they need quickly.

“The bill gives our children the early educational support they need in reading,” said Rep. Billie Miller. “Reading is the foundation of learning and key to academic success, but almost 60 percent of Connecticut fourth graders scored below the proficient level in 2011 and that is simply unacceptable.”

The bill also establishes the Commissioner’s Network, which provides the intensive supports and interventions needed to turn around up to 25 of the most chronically low-performing schools in Connecticut. It grants the state commissioner of education the needed authority to develop or modify plans with teachers and parents at “turnaround” schools.

The legislation creates 10 new Family Resource Centers and at least 20 new or expanded School Based Health Centers to be located in education reform districts. It also increases funding for existing Family Resource Centers, and supports programs to preemptively provide home visiting and support services to families that have children who are at risk for truancy, tardiness, behavioral or academic problems

Rep. Billie Miller, a member of the Education Committee, said that closing the state’s Achievement Gap is her top priority and she is hopeful that today’s legislation will help give all of Connecticut’s students access to the education they deserve

“I will continue to work and do everything possible to ensure that Connecticut schools meet their obligation to all of the state’s families and provide a first-rate education to every student,” said Rep. Billie Miller.

Rep. Billie Miller spoke passionately from the floor of the House about hearing from people from Stamford and around the state who have had to contend with racial profiling for too many years.

“I'm really disappointed and I’m also outraged that people of color are still being illegally stopped in this day and age,” said Rep. Billie Miller. “Obviously we still need to do more, but this is an important step forward in addressing concerns about profiling,”

The bill modifies the 1999 Racial Profiling Prohibition Act championed by the late Sen. Alvin Penn of Bridgeport, which requires police departments to forward data on traffic stops to the African-American Affairs Commission (AAAC) to assess for evidence of racial profiling. The new law sets standards for reporting the information and shifts responsibility for its analysis to the governor’s budget office, which has more staff and resources available than AAAC.

In addition, the legislation also allows the state to withhold public safety-related funds from communities that don't comply. A 2011 analysis of more than 100,000 traffic stops by dozens of local police departments found that black and Hispanic drivers are significantly more likely to receive a ticket or a court date than white drivers stopped for the same offense.

Previously passed by the Senate, the bill now goes to Governor Dannel P. Malloy who indicated he would sign it into law. “This is a real problem that deserves a real solution, and my administration is committed to carrying out the spirit and letter of this law,” said Gov. Malloy.

Gov. Malloy, Martin Luther King, III and Rep. Pat Billie Miller at the State Capitol to support legislation strengthening voting rights.

“Everyone has the right to vote—it is the bedrock of our democracy,” said Rep. Billie Miller. “At a time when so many states are proposing legislation that limits the voting rights of American citizens, I’m proud that we in Connecticut are strengthening the rights of our voters.”

The legislature recently passed a resolution for an amendment to the state Constitution that would remove restrictions on absentee ballot voting. The resolution is an early step in a long process that would eliminate barriers to absentee ballot voting, thus paving the way for consideration of progressive reforms such as early voting and no-excuse absentee ballot voting.

Rep. Billie Miller said the resolution is part of a comprehensive voter reform package that also includes proposals for online and Election Day voter registration and a bill to increase penalties for voter intimidation and vote tampering.

Rep. Pat Billie Miller speaking on the floor of legislature.

"I'm proud to have joined the majority of my colleagues in doing the right thing. Guilt is not an exact science—time and time again, innocent people have been executed in America," said Rep. Billie Miller. "It is fundamentally immoral for the state to take a life. Killing for killing is just plain wrong."

The bill, approved by the State Senate last week, was sent to Governor Dannel P. Malloy, who has said he would sign it. It replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for capital offenses committed on or after the effective date of the act.

Rep. Billie-Miller said capital punishment isn’t necessary for public safety and  the death penalty is not a deterrent to committing murder. States such as Florida, Virginia and Texas, states where they have strong capital punishment laws, do not have much lower crime rates.

“Besides the moral cost, which is beyond measure—it actually costs state taxpayers more money to execute people than to incarcerate the guilty with absolutely no chance of parole,” said Rep. Billie-Miller.

“I'm proud to stand here with these families today to help to raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders which affect one out of every 88 children,” said Rep. Billie Miller. “Connecticut has been a leader in passing laws to help children who suffer from autism, there is certainly more work to do.”

Autism Awareness Day is an annual event to draw attention to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and affected individuals and families. This is the 8th Autism Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.

Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS).

“I really enjoy meeting with my constituents and hearing their thoughts, but getting to Hartford to meet with me is difficult for most people,” Billie Miller said. “This is a convenient way to make myself available in an informal setting where folks can just stop by and chat.”

Let’s Talk is an opportunity for residents to share their thoughts and concerns with Billie Miller, ask her questions, get help or just meet. This is the third year in a row that she has held Let’s Talk sessions in Stamford.

“With the many challenges facing our state, I’m looking forward to working with and learning from leaders from around the country,” said Billie Miller. “I’m honored to have been selected for this fellowship in only my second term. I hope to bring some fresh ideas back home.”

Billie Miller was nominated by Speaker of the House of Representatives Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) and was selected from among the 117 outstanding applicants by a committee of state elected and appointed officials as one of the most promising leaders of state government. This year’s applicants included state leaders from all three branches of government, representing 42 states and two U.S. territories. Past Toll Fellowship graduates include governors, members of Congress, as well as leaders in state government.

“Pat is a proven leader and a great resource to the Connecticut House,” Donovan said. “This fellowship is a much deserved recognition of her achievements and ability.”

The fellowship, named in honor of Henry Toll, a Colorado senator who founded CSG in 1933, seeks to develop the next generation of leaders from state government. This year’s program, held in Lexington, Kentucky focuses on trends analysis, policy development, media and constituent relations, and leadership and institutional changes.

Billie Miller, a Democrat, is serving her second term representing the southwest section of Stamford in the Connecticut General Assembly. She is also Vice Chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee that oversees all state spending.

The Council of State Governments is the premier multi-branch organization forecasting policy trends for states, commonwealths and territories on a national and regional basis. CSG alerts state elected and appointed officials to emerging social, economic, and political trends; offers innovative state policy responses to rapidly changing conditions; and advocates multi-state problem-solving to maximize resources and competitiveness. CSG promotes excellence in decision-making and leadership skills and champions state sovereignty.