The bill (HB 5455) provides for state regulation of illegal massage establishments and makes it a crime to knowingly and willfully employ unlicensed massage therapists.

“Sexually-oriented businesses have been posing as legitimate massage therapists for too long,” Rep. Orange said. “Illegal massage parlors give legitimate, licensed massage therapists an unfair black eye.  This law will help protect good businesses and close the doors of bad ones.”

The bill adds “shiatsu", "acupressure" and "Thai massage" to the list of services that may not be offered or advertised at an unlicensed facility.

Rep. Orange was recently honored by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) for her work on the legislation.

AMTA has expressed concerns that illegal massage businesses are conduits for human trafficking. The International Institute of Connecticut estimates that approximately 800,000 to 900,000 victims are trafficked annually across international borders and between 14,000 and 17,000 of those victims are trafficked into the US.

Rep. Linda Orange and members of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association government relations team at the Legislative Office Building.

Rep. Orange called the action taken by Governor Malloy, “an historic commitment to the fire schools that will enable our state’s firefighters to have the training facilities needed to provide them with the very best training and tools necessary to protect our citizens.”

The funding was announced today at the State Capitol Complex. Rep. Orange was joined at the event by Chief Walter Cox and Assistant Chief Don Lee of the Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Department.

In 1999 the Connecticut State Firefighters Association (CSFA) launched a long-term construction plan to upgrade seven of Connecticut’s regional fire schools. To date, work at the New Haven school has been completed and work has begun on the Hartford County fire school in Windsor Locks. The other five projects are:

• Eastern Connecticut regional fire school (Willimantic)
• Fairfield regional fire school
• Burrville regional fire school (Torrington)
• Naugatuck Valley regional fire school (Beacon Falls)
• Waterbury area Wolcott regional fire school (Cheshire)

According to the CSFA there are about 26,000 firefighters in Connecticut. About 4000 are professional firefighters and more than 22,000 are volunteers.

The project will include extending water and sewer service to the new facility, an important aid for economic growth in the town of Colchester.

“Extending water and sewer service will help us attract new business to Colchester,” Rep. Orange said. “I am happy Sen. Daily and I were able to work with Governor Malloy to get this project moving forward.”

At a meeting in Colchester, town officials expressed concerns that the grant was not going to be released in a timely manner. The town asked Rep. Orange and Sen. Daily to work with the Governor’s office to secure the funding.

“This extension of Colchester’s wastewater treatment capabilities represents the state’s commitment to infrastructure upgrades to better serve the local business community, which in turn will benefit all who depend upon the local economy,” Sen. Daily said. “Colchester has shown remarkable growth over the past few years and this bond allocation is additional evidence of our resolve to keep pace with that progress.”

The state Office of Policy and Management estimates the project will create 735 construction related jobs.

The State Bond Commission is scheduled to meet at 10:45 a.m. Friday, October 28th in room 1-E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Rep. Linda Orange, Jodi Thomas, Dylan Crabb and Governor Malloy
after signing the power plant safety bill into law.

Rep. Orange, who lost close friend Ron Crabb in the explosion, said, “This new law is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the family members who live with the aftermath of this tragedy every day. I want to thank Jodi Thomas, Ron’s wife, who was the driving force behind passing this law.”

Rep. Orange dedicated the new law to Dylan Thomas Crabb, Ron and Jodi’s seven-year-old son and members of the United Association Local 777 - Plumbers & Pipefitters.

Six people were killed and more than 30 were injured in the Kleen Energy explosion.

The legislation incorporates recommendations of the Thomas Commission, including banning the use of flammable gases to conduct "gas blows” at power plants. Gas blows, which use highly pressurized natural gas to clean pipes of debris, were found to have caused the Kleen Energy explosion. The legislation sets a fine of up to $100,000 and up to two years in prison for violations.

As part of the license requirements of all future power plants, the legislation requires new electricity plants to pay for special inspectors to assist local fire marshals in reviewing building plans and conducting inspections of the sites. The bill also requires the Connecticut Siting Council to consult with the Departments of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and other agencies before approving any plans.

U.S. Chemical Safety Board hopes the legislation will be a national model for legislation in other states.

Rep. Orange, who lost close friend Ron Crabb in the explosion, said, “If I could, I would name this bill ‘Dylan’s Law’ after Dylan Thomas Crabb, the seven-year-old son of my friends Ron Crabb and Jodi Thomas. Dylan is so proud of his mother’s hard work and dedication to craft this legislation. We owe it to Dylan and the other family members and friends touched by the Kleen Energy tragedy to make sure avoidable workplace accidents are a thing of the past.”

Six people were killed and more than 30 were injured in the Kleen Energy explosion.

“The investigations into last year’s accident found that the explosion could and should have been avoided. We owe it to the victims and their families to never let a disaster like it happen again,” said Rep. Matt Lesser (D-Middletown). “I have worked on this legislation for over a year and I hope it can bring some small comfort to the workers at the plant and the residents who live nearby.”

Rep. Lesser noted some residents living near the plant complained about odors and smoke over the weekend, reminding the community of the need for increased oversight.

“While it is impossible to prevent all accidents, this bill adopting the recommendations of the Thomas Commission will go a long way in ensuring public safety in the construction and operation of natural gas energy plants,” said Rep. Christie Carpino (R-Cromwell, Middletown, Portland), a co-sponsor of the legislation. “With a prohibition on 'blowing' the gas lines to clear them, greater levels of inspection, and increased transparency and public input in the process of locating these plants, we can help make certain a tragedy like the one last year at the Kleen Energy Plant isn't repeated.”

The bill (House Bill 5802) incorporates recommendations of the Thomas Commission, including banning the use of flammable gases to conduct "gas blows” at power plants. Gas blows, which use highly pressurized natural gas to clean pipes of debris, were found to have caused the Kleen Energy explosion. The legislation sets a fine of up to $100,000 and up to two years in prison for violations.

As part of the license requirements of all future power plants, the legislation requires new electricity plants to pay for special inspectors to assist local fire marshals in reviewing building plans and conducting inspections of the sites. The bill also requires the Connecticut Siting Council to consult with the Departments of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and other agencies before approving any plans.

The legislation now awaits action by the State Senate.

“Bashan Lake in East Haddam is a treasure. This combination of state and federal funds will shore up the dam and make sure it is safe,” said Orange.

This statewide emergency dam repair project is expected to create approximately 57 construction-related jobs.

“The Bashan Lake Dam transforms the Moodus River into one of Connecticut’s premier destinations for recreation, ranging from canoeing and kayaking to fishing for no less than eight different species of fish,” Senator Daily said. “Planned improvements to the dam will receive a proportionate share of a $1.47 million grant that helps the state qualify for an additional $900,000 in federal funding. The end result will be ongoing recreational use of the lake, enhanced peace of mind for everybody downstream, and, at last, some protection for the homes, basements, and other structures of lakefront property owners.”

The State Bond Commission met Friday in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Rep. Linda Orange and Sen. Edith Prague join eastern Connecticut lawmakers opposing the tax on Millstone.

“Bashan Lake in East Haddam is a treasure. This combination of state and federal funds will shore up the dam and make sure it is safe,” said Orange.

This statewide emergency dam repair project is expected to create approximately 57 construction-related jobs.

“The Bashan Lake Dam transforms the Moodus River into one of Connecticut’s premier destinations for recreation, ranging from canoeing and kayaking to fishing for no less than eight different species of fish,” Senator Daily said. “Planned improvements to the dam will receive a proportionate share of a $1.47 million grant that helps the state qualify for an additional $900,000 in federal funding. The end result will be ongoing recreational use of the lake, enhanced peace of mind for everybody downstream, and, at last, some protection for the homes, basements, and other structures of lakefront property owners.”

The State Bond Commission met Friday in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Ryan Blessing/ NorwichBulletin.com
State Sen. Eileen Daily, D-Westbrook, left, and state Rep. Linda Orange, D-Colchester, at the Lyman Viaduct.

“When I walk the Airline Trail to inspect the condition of the Lyman Viaduct the deterioration is alarming.” Representative Orange said. “This funding moves us to a permanent fix to the erosion that has plagued the viaduct and will shore-up this part of the trail for future generations to enjoy.”

“Final approval for this bonding, originally authorized by the General Assembly in 2007, represents an historic commitment to fill the huge hole beneath the tunnel with boulders and restore the original stream bed,” Senator Daily said. “These funds will also underwrite repairs to the underpinnings of the concrete end walls and wing walls of the culvert.”

“We’re grateful to Governor Malloy for recognizing the urgent need for this funding,” Senator Daily added. “We’ve done the best we can with temporary measures over the years to mitigate the erosion damage, and we’re grateful to the Department of Environmental Protection for those efforts, but the reconstruction to be funded with this bonding is what was really needed all along,”

Beyond the environmental considerations there are ecological and public health issues at stake, the lawmakers said. Continuing deterioration of the slope above the viaduct could expose a 16-inch pipeline that carries wastewater from Hebron through Colchester to a treatment facility in East Hampton.

The lawmakers said the potential for a collapse of the viaduct foundation or a rupture of that wastewater pipeline – which uses a former railroad right-of-way – would threaten the Salmon River and eventually the Connecticut River; they also said either failure would close the very popular Airline Trail where it crosses the viaduct.

Rep. Orange, who lost close friend Ron Crabb in the explosion, said, “We take the findings of the Thomas Commission very seriously. We want this important public safety legislation to become law as soon as possible. In working closely with Ron’s family, I know his widow, Jodi Thomas, is behind our efforts. Jodi is steadfastly committed to the passage of this bill.”

“We owe it to the victims and their families to never let a disaster like this happen again,” said Lesser. “One year after the tragedy, I am more optimistic than ever that we can implement tough, common sense safety laws."

The Thomas Commission was formed in the aftermath of last year’s explosion at the Kleen Energy construction site in Middletown, which caused six deaths and injured more than 30 other people. The commission was tasked with recommending legislative or regulatory changes that would help prevent explosions in the future.

The bill (House Bill 5802) incorporates recommendations of the Thomas Commission, including banning the use of flammable gases to conduct "gas blows” at power plants. Gas blows, which use highly pressurized natural gas to clean pipes of debris, were found to have caused the Kleen Energy explosion.

As part of the license requirements of all future power plants, the legislation requires new electricity plants to pay for special inspectors to assist local fire marshals in reviewing building plans and conducting inspections of the sites. The bill also requires the Connecticut Siting Council to consult with the Departments of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and other agencies before approving any plans.

The legislation has been raised by the Public Safety Committee and awaits the scheduling of a public hearing.

“The years ahead promise to be challenging as well as a time of enormous opportunity for the state of Connecticut,” Speaker Donovan said. “I am convinced Linda’s talent, experience and commitment will get the job done for Connecticut families and businesses. I have encouraged Linda to think boldly and creatively as we seek solutions to the problems we face and position Connecticut for a robust recovery.”

“It has been my privilege to serve as Deputy Speaker over the past two years and I look forward to working closely with Speaker Donovan this legislative session,” Rep. Orange said.

When the Speaker of the House is absent from the chamber, the Deputy Speaker presides over the House of Representatives, recognizes all members wishing to speak to the chamber, puts all questions to vote and directs legislation to the proper committees.

Rep. Orange will also serve on the Appropriations, Public Safety, Human Services and Legislative Management committees. The entire membership of the General Assembly will be sworn into office on January 5th at the State Capitol in Hartford during the opening day ceremony of the 2011 session.