2004 Press Releases
October 5, 2004
State Representative Kevin Ryan (D-139th District) has been named a "Champion for Community Providers" for his support of funding initiatives for the Connecticut Community Providers Association to help pay for a wide array of community based services.
The Connecticut Community Providers Association represents more than 500 private, nonprofit human services statewide.
Some of the services involved include residential, vocational and support programs for people with mental illness and mental retardation, substance abuse treatment programs, homeless shelters, employment programs, and other initiatives.
Rep. Ryan fought for the Private Provider Indexing Initiative which was included in this year’s budget that was approved in the General Assembly and signed into law.
The Private Provider Indexing Initiative is seen as a major step forward in addressing chronic underfunding of crucial services.
"I am pleased to be honored by the Community Providers Association, but more importantly I am pleased to have played a role in helping to provide future funding for private providers," Rep. Ryan said. "These are vital services that are necessary to help our fellow citizens in need and to ensure their quality of life."
Rep. Ryan is House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.
August 6, 2004
State Representative Kevin Ryan (D-139th District) welcomed Friday’s State Bond Commission approval of $137,000 for the Town of Montville.
The grant will help finance the installation of a water line to the Mohegan Elementary School along Golden Road.
"I am pleased to have helped to secure this funding and that the State Bond Commission has approved the $137,000 grant," Rep. Ryan said. "The funding will save the town as much as $300,000 because it means the digging of wells will now be avoided thanks to the installation of the water line."
Rep. Ryan is House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.
May 28, 2004
State Representative Kevin Ryan (D-139th District) is pleased the State Bond Commission Friday approved $41,000 in funding earmarked for work at the Savin Lake Dam in Lebanon.
The funding secured by Rep. Ryan will be used for the design of repairs to the state-owned dam at Savin Lake in Lebanon. The design will consist of a field investigation of the dam, inland wetlands delineation, geotechnical evaluations, underwater inspections, preparation of plans and drawings for the repair of the spillway and embankment, and the preparation of an engineer’s construction cost estimate.
"I am pleased to have been able to help secure this funding for work to be done at the Savin Lake Dam," Rep. Ryan said, "This resource must be protected and this is an important step towards that goal."
Rep. Ryan is House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.
May 19, 2004
State Representative Kevin Ryan (D-139th District) who has fought to restore budget cuts in Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding to small towns is pleased that Bozrah, Franklin, Lebanon and Montville will benefit from the Democratic approved state budget passed in the legislature and accepted by the Governor.
"An increase in education funding for our towns provides local property tax relief," Rep. Ryan said, "I am pleased that in addition to more education funding there is an increase in the total Statutory Grants for our towns and this was accomplished without raising state taxes."
| |
FY 2003-04 |
FY 2004-05 |
Increase |
Figures For Bozrah |
Education Cost Sharing Grant |
$984,704 |
$1,027,166 |
$42,462 |
Total Statutory Formula Grant |
$1,117,538 |
$1,185,473 |
$67,935 |
|
Figures For Franklin |
Education Cost Sharing Grant |
$778,611 |
$784,061 |
$5,450 |
Total Statutory Formula Grant |
$897,554 |
$915,760 |
$18,208 |
|
Figures For Lebanon |
Education Cost Sharing Grant |
$4,357,022 |
$4,502,497 |
$145,475 |
Total Statutory Formula Grant |
$4,780,424 |
$4,964,454 |
$182,467 |
|
Figures For Montville |
Education Cost Sharing Grant |
$10,313,587 |
$10,432,220 |
$118,633 |
Total Statutory Formula Grant |
$13,054,763 |
$13,453,230 |
$398,467 |
"The fight for small towns must continue," Rep. Ryan added, "But, we were able to restore budget cuts that were made last year and this is a sign of real progress."
Rep. Ryan also pointed out that local property taxpayers will benefit from the restoration of the $500 property tax credit that was included in the budget legislation.
Rep. Ryan is House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.
April 27, 2004
A bill sponsored by State Representative Kevin Ryan (D-139th District) that expands the family and medical leave acts for both state and private sector employees to donate an organ or bone marrow has gained passage in the House. The bill goes next to the state Senate.
Under current law state and private sector employees can take unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child or for the serious illness of an employee’s child, spouse, parent or the employee himself or herself.
The Ryan bill amends the law to make an employee donating an organ or bone marrow eligible for leave.
"This is an important expansion of the law because organ donations have become more difficult to get and whatever we can do to help and encourage organ donations is a positive step," Rep. Ryan said. "This is a life-saving measure and recognizes the contribution made by organ donors."
The Federal and Medical Leave Acts (FMLA) applies to private sector employers with 50 or more employees and the state employee FMLA is part of state personnel provisions.
The bill requires that any employee seeking leave to donate an organ or bond marrow must provide written certification from a physician of the proposed donation and the probable length of recovery.
Rep. Ryan is House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. |
