With the 2012 legislative session just completed and many complicated and technical bills approved by the General Assembly, one stands out for both its simplicity and obvious impact on consumers.

HB 5021, “An Act Concerning Competitive Alcoholic Liquor Pricing And Hours Of Operation For Permittees,” allows package and grocery stores to sell alcohol on Sundays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. In addition, alcohol sales were approved for Memorial Day in May, Independence Day in July and Labor Day in September as well as on Mondays following the Fourth of July, Christmas or New Year’s Day when the holidays fall on a Sunday.

The House of Representatives passed the legislation 116-27. Indiana will now be the only remaining state that still bans Sunday alcohol sales.

From a state budget standpoint, Sunday alcohol sales is estimated to bring in $5.2 million in taxes to the state each year, with cities and towns also experiencing a small revenue increase which helps local budgets.

There are also other aspects of the legislation that will benefit consumers including allowing package stores:

• to sell additional “complementary goods” such as fresh fruits used in mixed alcoholic beverages, cheese, crackers and olives.
• and grocery stores to put one beer or liquor item on sale up to 10 percent below cost each month.

Further provisions affecting the purchase of alcohol are also part of the bill and include allowing:

• a bar with a café permit to open at 6 a.m. daily to serve food but not sell liquor until 9 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.
• a brewery to offer tastings to visitors not on a tour and increases the amount of beer a brew pub or brewery may sell at retail to an individual from eight to nine liters per day.
• the sale of wine at a farmers’ market on Sunday.
• a package store to charge a fee for wine education and tastings.

One provision that was in the original bill, but ultimately rejected would have allowed gasoline station convenience stores to sell beer.

Finally, the legislation also establishes a Competitive Alcoholic Liquor Pricing task force to study Connecticut’s laws concerning liquor taxes, quantity and volume discounts, minimum pricing, price postings and permit restrictions and compare them with surrounding states. With the establishment of this panel to study our liquor laws, we will have an opportunity to look at additional recommendations in the future.

House Bill 5024: An Act Concerning Voting Rights would allow Election Day voter registration and create an online voter registration system.

“Voting is the foundation of our democracy and we should be encouraging more voter turnout any way we can,” Sayers said. “Part of that approach is based on modernizing and revitalizing our elections system.”

The bill would allow eligible Connecticut residents to register to vote and cast a ballot on Election Day. It would establish Election Day registration (EDR) procedures and eliminate the use of presidential ballots since they will be redundant under the bill's EDR provisions.

The bill would also require the secretary of the state to establish and maintain an online system for voter registration. Starting in January 2014, Connecticut residents would be able to go online and use their driver’s license number to log into the website. They would enter the same information that is currently part of the paper-registration.  That information would be verified and sent electronically to the registrar of voters in their town and the registrar would be able to accept or reject the registration.

Election Day Registration would begin in 2013, a municipal election, allowing election officials to have three election cycles before administering EDR in a Presidential election.

The legislation now goes to the state Senate for consideration.

The House of Representatives has passed numerous health care bills this year that will benefit patients – legislation that we have championed or co-sponsored.

Because of advances in technology, medical treatment is improving day by day and one bill (HB 5329) that we've supported and was passed unanimously by the House would allow Connecticut hospitals to use a telepharmacy for dispensing sterile products.

Under the legislation, hospitals could have satellite offices where patients receive chemotherapy and other IV treatment. Using the lat­est real-time video and audio communication with a hospital, pharmacy technicians would be able to provide IV treatment to patients in more convenient, acces­sible and closer-to-home environments.

Instead of having to be admitted into a hospital, patients could go to satellite locations where lower medical costs could also be achieved.

The legislation still needs the Senate's approval and Governor Dannel P. Malloy's signature. Since it's just what the doctor has ordered – as they say – we expect the legislation to be enacted soon.

Another very important bill (HB 5063) that we've championed concerns treatment for a drug overdose. In short, this legislation, also passed unanimously by the House, would allow licensed health care professionals to prescribe naloxone to a broader group of people who are experiencing an overdose.

A study by the Yale School of Public Health found that 39 percent of overdoses in Connecticut involved prescription opioid analgesics such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and methadone or a legal combination of the opioids. The study covered a 10-year span from 1998 to 2009.

There was also an increasing trend of overdoses in older individuals, including some in their 50s and 60s.

A 2004 study said that naloxone appears to be the most promising intervention strategy for reducing overdose mortality and the legislation we recently passed will help a broader group of people.

A third bill (SB 252) passed unanimously by the House and Senate would authorize the use of flavoring agents for prescription medications.

Other legislation (HB 5476) passed by the House expands consumer choice for life-support at home. Simply put, the bill expands consumer options for continuous, skilled nursing care at home.

The bill, based on recommendations of a task force on Grandparents’ Visitation Rights, gives grandparents and other third parties a defined process for seeking visitation rights via court petition. The legislation is in response to a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling that denied a visitation petition, which had previously been approved by a lower court, due to the lack of specific “good faith” grievances.

“Family dynamics can be very complicated and certainly emotional, so it is important to do our best to ensure that decisions are made in a child’s best interests,” said Sayers. “This gives grandparents a guide on how to go about seeking visitation rights so a court can better assess each unique situation.”

Specifically the legislation requires a grandparents’ visitation petition to include a showing of specific information including the existence of a parent-like relationship and activities, and that a denial of visitation rights could cause harm to the child. The bill then requires a court to hold a hearing and grant the request if clear and convincing evidence has shown such conditions exist.

The state Department of Children and Families participated on the task force and supports the bill which they said “balances the constitutional right of parents to make decisions in the best interests of their children, with the desire of grandparents to be an important part of their grandchildren’s lives.”

Skyrocketing gasoline prices impact each of our daily lives as well as the economy as a whole. Global factors including growing demand from expanding economies such as China, turmoil in the Middle East and oil market speculators all contribute to the problem.

So what can the little state of Connecticut do to help stabilize prices and ease the pain at the pump? The unfortunate truth is not much, but we have a responsibility to try.

Faced with that reality, the legislature acted in a bipartisan unanimous manner just a few weeks ago to cap the petroleum gross receipts tax (GRT) on motor fuels and enact new price gouging laws to protect consumers from oil companies and gasoline dealers that try to exploit abnormal market conditions for profit.

The legislation (SB457), which was quickly signed into law by Governor Malloy on April 3, specifically caps the collection of the GRT, which is a percentage of the wholesale price, whenever the price reaches $3.00 per gallon or above.

The effective rate of the GRT is 7.53%, so this cap will save consumers 7.5 cents per gallon when the wholesale price climbs to a dollar above the $3.00 cap. Yes, the immediate savings may only amount to pennies, but that savings rises further whenever the price goes up.

This comes at a time when gasoline prices seem to be climbing daily and is designed to bring some relief, especially before the heavy summer driving season begins.

As mentioned, the legislation also contains protections for consumers from price gouging by giving the state Attorney General and state Department of Consumer Protection more authority to investigate alleged profiteering.

These provisions of the bill include:

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

• Amending the state’s 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 automatically go into effect for at least one month.

• Declaring an “abnormal market disruption” immediately now for 90 days in anticipation of further wholesale price spikes.

• Granting the Department of 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.

• Ensuring that similar profiteering protections are in place for home heating oil, which is not subject to the gross receipts tax.

Though the state is at the mercy of the world oil markets and can’t change federal energy policy, this plan does provide some relief at the pump and ensures that oil and gas wholesalers don’t artificially drive up prices. Most importantly, this new law puts oil companies on notice that Connecticut will not allow residents to be taken advantage of and be victimized by irresponsible profiteering.

After going through an unprecedented financial crisis, Connecticut in the last year showed some positive signs of turning the corner on the road to economic recovery. The fiscal and economic challenges the state faced when the crisis began in 2008 were enormous, but we took action to create jobs, encourage business development and balance the budget.

This year, business growth and job creation continue to be our top priorities as we work to keep the state budget balanced. And while remaining committed to keeping essential services properly funded, we continue to strive toward a leaner and more efficient government.

After losing thousands of jobs in the Great Recession, Connecticut is once again creating new jobs. Economists at the University of Connecticut's Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis believe that public and private employers will create 18,000 jobs between September 2011 and September 2013, a rate of about one-half of 1 percent per year.

Unlike the state's frequent performance versus the nation's following economic downturns, the state's total output of goods and services could grow by 3.3 percent in 2012, while national GDP growth is forecasted for 2.6 percent. A reason for the growth is that the state will be benefiting from $460 million in major construction projects this year and $1.5 billion in 2013 in north-central Connecticut. The forecast is based on continued low interest rates, which the Federal Reserve said would be in place for at least two years.

To help keep this momentum going, the legislature this year is focusing on several areas to help business and create jobs.

Small businesses consistently tell us that the high cost of health insurance is an impediment to expansion and job growth. To help businesses deal with this problem, there is legislation in the works that will allow small businesses, including the self-employed, to purchase employee health care coverage through the state employee health plan.

In last year's bipartisan Jobs Bill, we did a great deal to streamline the brownfield development process, allowing swifter conversion of contaminated and long-abandoned properties to productive sties for economic development, open space and other public uses.

We have had a great deal of success in securing state and federal funding for brownfield remediation as a great investment that creates jobs, increases municipal tax rolls and cleans up the environment. This year we are looking to expand on these efforts, and continue to support additional funding as well as expediting the permitting process so that more projects can be undertaken.

Last fall, we passed aggressive legislation to support the efforts of small businesses across the state to expand and grow jobs. Now, we need to increase the number of businesses that qualify for hiring incentives and tax breaks. To do that, there is legislation changing the definition of small business from 50 employees to 100 employees. That will greatly increase the number of businesses that can take advantage of these growth incentives.

Connecticut has tremendous potential for growth and the legislation we are considering in this 2012 Session will help the state continue to move forward toward prosperity.

Last year we urged the Malloy Administration and other state officials to become involved in the merger process between Northeast Utilities and Boston-based NSTAR and we are grateful they heeded our request.

The need to protect Connecticut and the interests of its citizens was paramount and called for the direct involvement of state officials in the merger process involving these two major utility companies.

Subsequently, after months of negotiating, an agreement with NU and NSTAR has been announced.

The agreement provides at least $120 million in benefits to Connecticut in rate relief, investment in the state's energy future and preservation of 1,000 acres of open space. Other benefits include a two and half year distribution rate freeze; a commitment to keep NU headquarters in Hartford for at least seven years; protection of Connecticut jobs; the opportunity to preserve as much as 8,500 additional acres of open space; and a $300 million investment in infrastructure reliability improvements.

State officials have stated that the agreement ensures that distribution rates for consumers will stay flat for two and a half years, providing some much needed relief for residents.

In addition, the agreement provides:

Direct cash benefits:

• $25 million in uniform rate credits to residential, commercial and industrial customers of NU's Connecticut Light & Power Co. subsidiary, to be applied in the first billing cycle after the merger is completed.
• Creation of a $15 million fund for energy efficiency and related initiatives.

Distribution rate freeze until December 2014:

• No general increase in CL&P distribution rates prior to December 1, 2014.
• The first $40 million in storm-related costs associated with Tropical Storm Irene and the October 2011 snow storm will be excluded from rates. Any additional expenses will be subject to regulatory review and if approved, recovered over a six year period.

System improvements:

• Commitment to invest $300 million – $100 million immediately –  in improvements to the electric distribution system.
• Commitment to allocate resources for restoration efforts following major storms fairly among the various states where NU operates, based on operational needs, system requirements and the relative number of outages. An updated plan of mutual aid will be filed with state regulators by Sept. 1, 2012.
• Commitment by CL&P and Yankee Gas to improve non-storm and storm-related service quality improvements.

After everything the state and its residents have been through over the past year, weathering storms and enduring long outages of utility service, we hope this agreement best meets the needs of everyone if it ultimately receives final state regulatory approval.

The first bill voted on by the state House of Representatives during this year’s legislative session will ensure that thousands of seniors and people with disabilities will be able to continue to use the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) to help pay for their Medicare co-pays and deductibles.

The legislation (HB 5301), which passed unanimously on a vote of 137-0 on February 23, raises the income limit for the MSP in order to accommodate a 3.6% Social Security cost of living increase (COLA) which took effect January 1. The federal government is requiring the state Department of Social Services to factor in the extra income for program eligibility purposes beginning March 1.

Thankfully we were able to act in time by utilizing the rarely used fast track process of “emergency certified” legislation. This prevents approximately 4,100 qualified Medicare beneficiaries from temporarily losing coverage for deductibles and co-pays on Medicare-covered services.

It would have been a tragic irony if a welcome increase in Social Security benefits caused Connecticut residents to become ineligible for certain Medicare benefits. MSP income eligibility limits are scheduled to increase October 1, but without this legislation there would have been a potentially devastating seven month gap in coverage.

This includes most ConnPACE recipients who were required to enroll in the MSP this past July to help pay for prescription medicines. The transfer to the federal MSP resulted in a significant savings for state taxpayers with no loss in benefits for ConnPACE beneficiaries.

A very helpful program that many depend upon, the MSP provides Medicaid-funded help with Medicare cost sharing to lower-income individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital/nursing home/home health coverage) and Medicare Part B (coverage for doctor’s visits).

Social Security and Medicare programs are cornerstones of our nation’s commitment to our seniors and people with disabilities. The administration of the various benefits can get very complicated, and when it does it is critical that government act decisively to be sure the intent and integrity of the programs is maintained.

With so many seniors struggling to make ends meet, this modification in the law can be a real lifesaver and allow people to continue to receiving the medical care they need.

Three important announcements in the last two weeks will give a much-needed boost to home ownership and benefit the overall economy of Connecticut.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said he would recommend substantially increasing the state's commitment to affordable housing by adding more than $330 million to bolster affordable and supportive housing across the state.

The funding builds on last year's commitment, which allocated more than $130 million to this effort, bringing the total commitment to nearly $500 million over the next 10ten years.

This is a long-overdue commitment to towns such as Windsor, Bloomfield and Windsor Locks. And as legislators, we are looking forward in this 2012 General Assembly session to helping communities become more vibrant places to work and live

The new proposal builds upon the initiatives Governor Malloy included in last year's budget, including an increase of $30 million in bonding for each of the next 10 years for public housing to bring deteriorated and vacant units back on line; an additional $20 million that will increase affordable housing options; an additional $12.5 million in capital funding to re-invigorate the state's elderly congregate housing; and an annualized $1.5 million for the Rental Assistance Program, which assists low-income families with securing affordable decent, safe and sanitary housing.

It is estimated that these housing initiatives included in the current two-year budget will create or retain over 6,700 construction and other related jobs.

Investing in housing where there already is infrastructure is smart policy and this advances an agenda for making affordable housing more available especially since we have high housing costs.

For the past 20 years, Connecticut has languished in its commitment to affordable housing – a critical area that is needed to help individuals and families find stability and employment.

As studies have shown, every dollar spent on affordable housing generates multiple times that amount in private economic activity. Housing is going to be a key component of our success to get Connecticut moving again.

Another important development that will help housing came last week when state Attorney General George Jepsen announced a landmark $25 billion joint federal-multistate settlement agreement with the nation's five largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure abuses and fraud, and unacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing practices.

Under the settlement, Connecticut homeowners and the state will receive more than $190 million. As important as the financial relief is, however, the settlement also requires the banks to change the way they service distressed loans and holds the banks accountable for what have become familiar abuses. And for the first time, state attorneys general will have authority to monitor how federally regulated banks comply with the new servicing rules and to impose heavy penalties on those banks that fall short.

The $190 million will be divided among homeowners and the state of Connecticut:

• Connecticut borrowers will receive an estimated $119 million in benefits from loan term modifications and other direct relief.
• The estimated 7,500 Connecticut borrowers who lost their home to foreclosure from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2011 and suffered servicing abuse would qualify for an estimated $1,500 in cash payments to individual borrowers.
• The value of refinanced loans to Connecticut's underwater borrowers would be an estimated $36 million.
• The state will receive a direct payment estimated at $27 million to help pay for local foreclosure prevention programs, such as the Connecticut Department of Banking's foreclosure prevention hotline, HUD- approved housing counselors, the Judicial Branch's foreclosure mediation program, non-profit legal aid groups that help homeowners facing foreclosure, and loan modification programs supported by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.

The settlement does not grant any immunity from criminal offenses and will not affect criminal prosecutions. The agreement does not prevent homeowners or investors from pursuing individual, institutional or class action civil cases against the five servicers. The pact also enables state attorneys general and federal agencies to investigate and pursue other aspects of the mortgage crisis, including securities cases.

The third announcement came from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which awarded the State of Connecticut a grant of nearly $21 million to build, repair, renovate and modernize public housing units.

This grant will build upon the initiatives begun last year to address long-standing needed capital improvements for housing in our state. It will also improve economic development and job creation, especially in construction industry.

Sayers said Malloy’s comprehensive proposal for reforming education in Connecticut from early childhood through college includes an additional $50 million in Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funding to school districts throughout the state.

Under the proposal, Windsor would receive an additional $306,985 or 2.66% while Windsor Locks would see an increase of $252,306 or 5.42%.

“The Governor said he wanted to invest more in education and he certainly backed it up,” said Sayers, a member of the Appropriations and Higher Education committees. “I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in support of this proposed funding for our communities.”

Malloy’s proposal addresses many areas in need of reform, including: increasing the access to and quality of early childhood education slots; allocating new funding and implementing new approaches that will improve low performing schools; expanding slots for public schools of choice including charter schools; removing red tape and other barriers that stand in the way of local school districts; repositioning our vo-tech schools to promote job readiness and job linkages; and improving teacher preparation so professionals have the skills they need to excel when they enter the classroom.

“It is critical that we get to the schools that are really struggling—and do it quickly,” said Governor Malloy. “We can get good teachers into classrooms, and hire the best superintendents and administrators, but we must address the overarching resources issue and fund the programs that will directly reach the kids who are at a disadvantage because their school is underperforming.”

While the overwhelming majority of people who are registered to vote do so in national presidential elections, voter turnout falls considerably in state and local campaign years. Less than 30% of voters went to the polls for November’s municipal elections and only 57% voted in the 2010 gubernatorial and congressional elections. Voter turnout plummets even further for primaries to select a party’s nominee as well as town referendums.

We were heartened recently when during the state’s commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and Secretary of the State Denise Merrill unveiled a proposal that focuses on the preservation of voting rights and expanding access to voter registration.

To improve the efficiency of registering new voters and maintaining a more accurate voter file, their proposed legislation would establish an online voter registration process. It would also allow for Election Day registration in an effort to improve voter turnout. In addition, the legislation would increase penalties for anyone who blocks or impedes voter access at the polls.

Finally, they call for parameters governing the use of absentee ballots to be set in statute, as opposed to the state constitution, which would give the legislature leeway to adopt laws that make it easier for voters to have access to absentee ballots.

Though some states are passing new laws that will actually make it tougher for people to vote, we believe we need to work toward increasing voter participation in elections as well as upgrading our registration systems to take advantage of the efficiencies offered by new technologies.

With these goals in mind, during last year’s legislation session we introduced a bill to allow what is known as “no-excuse” absentee voting, which is currently already done in at least 30 states.

Under present law, registered voters seeking an absentee ballot must provide a valid reason why they cannot vote at their polling location on Election Day. Reasons such as illness, military deployment and planned travel are considered acceptable.

There are also other reasons why people can’t vote and we should eliminate as many of the barriers possible that deter people from voting. Many factors such as age, physical infirmities, transportation, work schedules and weather conditions prevent people from going to the polling stations on Election Day. The concept of “no-excuse” absentee ballots will provide ample opportunity for all residents to vote.

A 2010 League of Women Voters study noted that “no-excuse” absentee ballots:

• Allow voters to cast their vote when they are able and better balance work and family schedules with their civic duty to vote
• Eliminate problems with ballots being cast in the wrong precinct and reduce provisional ballots
• Reduce lines on election days and thus costs by reducing the number of precincts and poll workers

This approach will give more people a say in who represents them in their town, the state, congress and as our president. We are very encouraged by the governor and secretary of the state’s proposal and look forward to working with them when the 2012 legislature convenes on February 8.

Voting remains the foundation of our democracy and we must keep that foundation strong.

The General Assembly will begin its 2012 session on Feb. 8 and there are many important issues to be considered. 

Under the category of education alone, there are several issues that are sure to generate discussion.

Education funding

Despite the fact that most state education aid to municipalities is frozen through the end of the 2013 fiscal year, there is interest in reviewing how the aid is being distributed, especially through the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant, which is the state's largest education aid grant to towns.

Many say the ECS formula cannot respond properly to changing education costs and socioeconomic conditions because key factors are frozen and its operation is inhibited by obsolete data and mandatory minimum grants.

The number of schools, especially interdistrict magnet and charter schools, that the state is funding outside the formula has also raised questions about the fairness and equity of state education funding.

A 12-member task force is studying the ECS formula and other state education funding and is scheduled to file an interim report this month.

Early childhood education

A law enacted last year set in motion steps aimed at establishing a coordinated system of early care and education and child development by July 1, 2013. The law also charged the governor's budget office with crafting a plan to establish the system. While Connecticut recently failed to win a federal Race to the Top grant for early childhood programs, legislators and the governor may continue to work toward a coordinated system.

These efforts may require legislation to better coordinate early childhood education services, programs and responsibilities. Expanding existing programs such as school readiness grants and preschool for three-and four-year-olds also may be required.

Student achievement gap

The state has been struggling with how to improve overall student achievement, the achievement in the lowest-performing school districts and how to narrow and ultimately close the achievement gap between white and minority students.

The legislature enacted laws to elevate high school graduation requirements in 2010, but delayed implementation of the new requirements last year because of budget constraints.

This session, the legislature may consider options that attempt to address educational achievement within existing budget constraints. Possible bills the legislature may consider include those addressing stagnant statewide achievement, whether and how to intervene in low-achieving schools and districts, and ways to close the achievement gap.

Teacher evaluation

The use of performance evaluations to make teacher employment decisions was a controversial issue in the last session. Since no legislation was enacted in 2011, the issue is expected to be discussed again this year.

The legislature could consider proposals concerning the evaluation process and how districts must treat teachers evaluated as ineffective. Other proposals could seek to tie teacher tenure, dismissal, and layoff decisions to the new evaluations; make it easier for school districts to terminate tenured teachers based on performance; or require districts to provide incentives to highly effective educators.

As we ring in the new year, two new laws will take effect that we wanted to share with you. One will improve public safety on our roads, and the second will help increase the collection of overdue back taxes.

Beginning January 1, Connecticut’s drunken driving laws will be strengthened by requiring mandatory ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders. Specifically, the new law requires all repeat DWI offenders to have ignition interlocks installed in their automobiles once their automatic driver’s license suspension period ends.

This law has the support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which advocates shorter license suspensions followed by lengthy, mandatory ignition interlock device (IID) periods. Extensive research shows that license suspensions do little to reduce repeat drunken driving because most offenders drive anyway.

An IID is an electronic breathalyzer connected to the ignition of a vehicle that measures breath alcohol concentration and prevents a driver from starting the vehicle if the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds .08 percent. A random retest is intermittently required while the car is in operation. Mandatory IIDs have the potential to save more lives than anything the state has done to address drunk driving to date.

“This is a real win for public safety and reducing drunk driving,” said MADD Connecticut Executive Director Janice Heggie Margolis. “It allows people to continue doing what they need to do, whether it is going to work, taking their children to school or getting their groceries - but they just can't do it drinking and driving.”

Connecticut already utilizes the technology, though it is only mandatory for a very small number of the most chronic offenders.  About 450 offenders are in the program today, while there are 3,000-4,000 repeat offenders every year. Numerous studies on IID use for repeat offenders show a reduction of recidivism between 50-95%.

In 2009, 44 percent of all traffic fatalities in the state were alcohol-related, ranking Connecticut as the nation’s second worst offender. IID use in New Mexico has resulted in a 38% reduction in alcohol-related traffic fatalities and in Arizona, a 33% reduction.

A second new law requires the state’s lottery agency to deduct delinquent taxes and penalties before distributing lottery prizes beginning this New Year’s Eve.  

Lottery prizes of $5,000 or more from tickets redeemed after December 30, 2011 are affected. With about $400 million in state taxes currently delinquent, the law will serve as an avenue to garner uncollected past due revenue.

This is not just about collecting taxes owed the state, but also about fairness and confidence in our tax system. If someone is lucky enough to win a lottery prize and they also owe back taxes, it is reasonable to collect those taxes at that time.

The lottery received added attention recently when a $254 million Powerball jackpot was won from a ticket purchased in Connecticut. Though the three winners were not affected by the new law, it does raise the importance of needing to accurately identify winners before distributing lottery prizes.

Current state statute already requires the Connecticut Lottery Corp. to check winning tickets valued at $5,000 or more against a list of individuals delinquent on child support payments. The lottery child support collection program, begun in 2004, has brought in about $1.5 million in delinquent payments.

As we prepare for the coming winter, we should be mindful that some of our friends and neighbors are struggling to keep their homes warm and families fed.

Because of the sluggish economy, there are fewer dollars available to help pay for heating assistance programs. The October Nor'easter that hit Connecticut also depleted food pantries.

As we think of giving this holiday season, two worthy local non-profit organizations that help fill major needs in our community deserve our special attention – Operation Fuel and Foodshare.

Operation Fuel is a private, non-profit energy assistance program for people who need emergency help with energy bills. Operation Fuel's statewide network of over 100 fuel banks helps lower-income working families, the elderly and disabled individuals who are not eligible for energy assistance from government-funded programs.

Donations to the program can be made monthly on your energy bill by checking the box to add a dollar to your monthly payments.

Operation Fuel partners with communities, businesses, government and individuals to make sure that people in need have access to year-round energy assistance.

When a family qualifies for assistance, Operation Fuel makes payments directly to the company that supplies the household with the heating fuel or utility services.

Although Operation Fuel does not receive any federal funding but instead depends on private donations and corporate and foundation grants to run its energy assistance program, the nonprofit will be affected by substantial cuts to the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in 2012. The impending cuts to LIHEAP are expected to put a severe strain on non-profit energy assistance programs in Connecticut.

Donations for Operation Fuel can be sent to Operation Fuel, One Regency Drive, Suite 200, Bloomfield, CT 06002 or made online at www.operationfuel.org. Individuals who need emergency energy assistance should call 211. Information also may be obtained by calling 860-243-2345.

Foodshare is the Hartford area's regional food bank. It distributes 16 tons of food each day to a network of 300 local partners, composed mostly of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that feed our hungry neighbors.

The network serves over 128,000 people including more than 10,000 seniors, the working poor and nearly 50,000 children.

Foodshare works with food companies to secure donations of good food that would otherwise go to waste.

Since most of the food is donated, every $30 that Foodshare receives is enough to feed a hungry person for an entire month.

Donations can be made online at www.foodshare.org or checks can be sent to Foodshare at 450 Woodland Avenue, Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002.

Please consider making a donation to one or both of these worthy organizations.

Veterans Day was officially recognized a few weeks ago on November 11, but every day is a good time to support the work and honor the sacrifices our troops have made in defense of the freedoms we enjoy in this country.

As Connecticut is the proud home to many soldiers who have served and are serving with distinction in our Armed Forces, each year the Legislature’s Veterans Affairs Committee looks to help improve the quality of life for those who have served our country.

Benefits such as tax exemptions and tuition breaks at Connecticut’s public colleges and universities are just a few examples of the committee’s work in recent years.

A new law just enacted last year allows veterans to use their military service experience and training toward academic credit for certain technical certificates and licenses. It also prohibits agencies from requiring veteran applicants to repeat any substantively similar training or schooling required for licensure or certification.

This year’s session of the General Assembly also produced a wide range of legislation aimed at assisting and honoring our veterans. Two of the new laws enhance services offered to veterans from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

A person’s veteran status will now be included on drivers’ licenses and identification cards. This designation makes for easier proof of eligibility for benefits programs or discounts offered to veterans. To obtain this distinction, bring records of your service when you renew your license.

In addition, “veteran” license plates are now available to active members of the Armed Forces. Previously, only retired members would be issued the special plates. More information on veteran plates is available online at www.ct.gov/dmv or by calling 860-263-5700.

Also, disabled wartime veterans from Connecticut are eligible for a free, lifetime pass for state parks, forests and recreational facilities. The pass allows free parking, admission as well as boat access parking.

The Legislature also extended local property tax interest waivers that applied to active Armed Forces serving in Iraq to those stationed in Afghanistan as well.

For a full list of available veterans’ services and benefits, visit the Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs website at www.ct.gov/ctva

We should always remember that the precious freedoms we share and sometimes take for granted come at a steep price. The brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces deserve our support and recognition each day.

In the span of just two months, we have had not one but two devastating storms – not to mention, an earthquake – that have knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of customers across the state.

The cost of these disasters is immeasurable. Residents lost food and were forced to find costly alternative housing. Businesses were severely impacted. The state budget suffered unexpected costs and people's lives were threatened.

While the true costs are impossible to calculate, there is one conclusion that is easy to make.

Connecticut Light & Power Co. failed to do its job in preparing for the storms and restoring power in a timely fashion.

One thing we have learned from this unfortunate experience is that CL&P and other utilities need to have service-restoration standards and accompanying penalties to ensure compliance.

That is why we will be seeking legislation designed to hold utility companies accountable to consumers for their performance before, during and after natural disasters. The legislation must include financial compensation for customers who have suffered damages. The compensation could come from fines of 2.5 percent of utility company's transmission and distribution revenues for failing to meet standards.

The compensation, perhaps in the form of a utility bill rebate or credit, would help offset costs incurred in lost food, medical assistance, alternative housing and removal and repair of damage to property.

Not only should there be standards for service restoration, but also we should have a detailed priority plan for reconnecting customers. In addition, we need legislation requiring the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to take a more aggressive stance for the consumer on utility matters.

Utility companies also should be required to file yearly emergency plans, including the number of contracted linemen and information on reciprocal aid agreements with other states and countries. In addition, there should be a requirement that they pay outside linemen used for emergency repairs within 30 days from date of billing.

Beyond that, municipalities need to be given authority to hire linesmen, tree cutters and electricians to assume responsibility if the utility does not meet its benchmarks – with those costs to be paid by the utility company.

The emergency plans should provide that hospitals, senior complexes, nursing homes, medical facilities, gas stations and grocery stores be given priority. And towns with highest number of seniors should be given a higher priority.

We understand that the two storms we have experienced have been unusual in their destructiveness. But we must have certain expectations of our utility companies, and they have to have an accountability that is measurable.

We have some of the highest electric rates in the country, and yet we don't have the best service.

Clearly, that has to change.

Legislation we successfully co-sponsored this year that greatly benefits charitable organizations were among the new laws that became effective last week.

Public health and public safety will always be the top responsibilities of government, but our struggling economy has made job creation and economic growth an urgent priority as well.

On October 26, the General Assembly convened a special legislative session dedicated to jobs. Unlike what is happening in Washington, Democrats, Republicans and Governor Dannel Malloy worked side by side at the State Capitol to develop a variety of proposals aimed at improving Connecticut’s economy and putting people back to work.

The initiatives focused on creating a climate in the state that is ripe for maintaining, attracting and creating jobs. Encouraging small business growth, streamlining the regulatory environment, spurring innovation and entrepreneurship, targeting worker training to employer needs, and other specific tools to promote economic development are all part of the comprehensive legislation.

Among the changes made to help small businesses grow, we cut the business entity tax in half, increased tax credits for new hires and targeted additional tax credits for hiring the unemployed, veterans and disabled workers.

In order to streamline and expedite the permitting process for business, permit applications for economic development projects will automatically be approved if not acted upon by the state within 60 days. Other types of permits will also be expedited. To reduce the regulatory burden, state agencies must conduct a review to eliminate and consolidate redundant or unnecessary regulations.

To increase private investment in high tech emerging technologies, the threshold for earning “Angel Investor” tax credits was reduced from $100,000 to $25,000. New “Innovation Centers” will be established in cities across the state to help connect entrepreneurs with mentors, capital resources, business services and prospective employees.

Workforce training will be enhanced by a $20 million investment to create a manufacturing technology program at the state’s vo-tech schools and community colleges. These programs along with the state’s agricultural science and other technology opportunities will be marketed to students.

On top of all this, targeted economic development funding includes $20 million to remediate and market five old abandoned industrial sites known as “brownfields” as well as $50 million to repair state bridges under the “Fix It First” program.

In addition, the legislature voted to approve the governor’s agreement with the world renowned medical research company Jackson Laboratories of Maine to build a major bioscience facility on the campus of the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. This project alone is expected to create 900 construction jobs and almost 7,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs.

Finally, a special “Main Street” fund for commercial improvements in smaller municipalities (less than 30,000 pop.) was established to help promote development in town centers. Grants up to $500,000 will be available for projects such as façades, sidewalks and lighting. 

The economic challenges faced by our state cross socio-economic and political lines, and that reality has resulted in the legislature taking a major first step in providing a launching pad for economic recovery and putting Connecticut residents back to work.

Sayers said the town will use the funding for reconstruction work on Pearl and Fern streets in the northeast section of town.

“Residents in the Pearl and Fern neighborhoods as was well as anyone driving in the area will see vastly better road conditions and storm drainage when this project is completed,” said Sayers. “This is much needed work and every dollar of state or federal funding that comes to our communities helps stabilize local property taxes.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program provides grants to eligible municipalities for economic development, affordable housing, community facilities and other revitalization projects. The federal program is administered by Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development.

“For most Connecticut towns and smaller cities, budgets are stretched thin but their infrastructure needs and the housing needs of their residents haven’t diminished,” Governor Dannel Malloy said. “That’s why the Small Cities program — and the federal grants the program awards — are so critical. The funding is key to these communities and their efforts to improve the lives of residents through housing programs and community projects.”

Public health and public safety will always be the top responsibility of government. But because of our struggling economy, encouraging economic growth and job creation has also become a top priority.

Whether it is President Obama, Congress, Governor Dannel Malloy or the state Legislature, everyone is working on finding ways to stimulate job growth as the current unemployment rate remains just above nine percent.

In fact, next week the General Assembly will convene a special legislative session dedicated to job creation. Unlike with what is happening in Washington - Democrats, Republicans and the governor have been working side by side at the State Capitol to develop a variety of proposals aimed at improving the economy and lowering unemployment.

Starting with the Majority Leaders’ Jobs Roundtable meeting at the Legislative Office Building earlier this month followed by the governor’s jobs summit at the Connecticut Convention Center, economists, business leaders and state officials have all been providing input on how best to achieve long term growth in our economy.

Also, the Legislature’s Finance and Commerce committees held their own informational hearings with presentations and public comment periods this week in advance of the jobs special session.

Some of the reoccurring themes that came out of all these forums include making it easier to do business with the state, creating a better support mechanism for small businesses and developing a sustainable, competitive workforce pool for employers. Expect to see legislation passed dealing with each of these areas.

In addition, there will likely be a vote to approve the governor’s agreement with the world renowned medical research company Jackson Laboratories of Maine to build a major bioscience facility on the campus of the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. This project is expected to create over 800 construction jobs, more than 600 permanent hi-tech research positions as well as thousands of indirect spinoff jobs.

As the governor stated in his official proclamation calling the General Assembly into special session, “the problem faced by our state concerning job creation and economic growth cut across socio-economic, political, and ideological boundaries.”

STATE GRANT FOR TRAIN STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT

On another important economic development note, Windsor was recently awarded a $250,000 state grant to help with preparing our train station area in anticipation of the planned New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line. The funds are designed to facilitate projects that will promote economic development by connecting transportation hubs to housing and employment centers.

Legislation we successfully co-sponsored this year that greatly benefits charitable organizations were among the new laws that became effective last week.

An Act Permitting the Mailing of Raffle Tickets and the Use of Coupons as Incentives to Purchase Raffle Tickets received strong, bipartisan support and will help many charities in Windsor.

The new law that took effect Oct. 1 allows nonprofit organizations to offer complimentary coupon books as incentives for purchasing raffle tickets.

Coupon books often consist of restaurant discount coupons that help induce people to buy a raffle ticket that offers a prize to the winner. In this manner, a contributor feels like they are getting an incentive to purchase the raffle ticket, knowing that just a few people actually win the designated prize.

Windsor has dozens of nonprofit organizations, including religious and civic-minded groups, veterans associations and fire departments, which rely on raffles for fundraising. These local organizations fulfill important needs of the community and rely on our help.

Sponsoring organizations such as the ones already mentioned perform an invaluable community service through the volunteer efforts of their members.

Another law we championed that helps non-profit organizations, An Act Eliminating the Limit on Teacup Raffle Prizes and Authorizing Golf Ball Drop Raffles, also became effective last week.

The new law eliminates the $250 prize limit on teacup raffles, thereby allowing prizes of unlimited value. By law, qualified organizations conducting bazaars may operate teacup raffles and award prizes consisting of gift certificates or merchandise.

The law also now authorizes golf ball drop raffles and allows organizations conducting them to award cash and other prizes.

Under the previous law, with some exceptions, cash prizes for bazaars and raffles were not allowed.

Another new law, An Act Concerning Updates to the Neighborhood Assistance Act, which took effect in July, allows charities to solicit donations larger than previously permitted from companies, which receive tax credits for their gifts.

Under the old law, the maximum tax credit was $75,000, but under the new legislation the maximum is $150,000. Also, the requirement that a company's total charitable giving amount meets or exceeds the prior year's amount has been repealed. The definition of a business firm also was expanded to include any business entity authorized to do business in Connecticut.

With revenue becoming increasingly harder to obtain for non-profit organizations in these difficult economic times, we must do everything we can to help them. These new laws will go a long way toward meeting that goal for the community.

In addition, we backed legislation (PA 10-155) in 2010 that created a new easy-to-use tool that gives the public unprecedented information about how tax dollars are being spent. The new website, www.transparency.ct.gov was unveiled this summer and allows anybody to follow literally every dollar spent by every agency in state government.

The state collects, maintains and archives reams of information, but it was not always readily available unless you physically went to a state office or specifically requested something by mail. Now anybody can find out for themselves almost instantaneously who is getting contracts and grants and where state money is going.

You can search employee salaries, contracts with businesses or examine agency budgets – all in seconds. Every time the state cuts a check, whether it is to a person, business, town or non-profit, it goes on the website.

For example, by entering “Town of Windsor” in the grants search section, you will see that our town received 25 grants, mostly for local education and property tax relief, totaling $24.8 million for the 2010 fiscal year.

And the legislature’s independent Office of Fiscal Analysis hosts and maintains the website at no additional cost to taxpayers.

The late United States Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said that “sunlight is the best disinfectant.” There is a lot of truth to this statement and the new website will not only serve that purpose but should also help improve public confidence in state government as well.

As part of the above mentioned consolidation of state agencies, one in particular was specifically aimed at ensuring state government is run with honesty and integrity and is always accountable to the public. A new umbrella Office of Governmental Accountability (OGA) will have nine former independent “watchdog” entities under its authority.

OGA will administer functions previously conducted by the Elections Enforcement Commission, Office of State Ethics, Freedom of Information Commission and Contracting Standards Board. OGA will even keep an eye on the courts as the former Judicial Selection Commission and Judicial Review Council have been placed under its purview. The Office of the Child Advocate, the Office of the Victim Advocate and the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners are the remaining entities that will also now be part of the new OGA.

Protecting and serving the public has always been the main responsibility of government. The state’s new www.transparency.ct.gov website along with new Office of Governmental Accountability should go a long way toward helping us better meet that challenge.

This year, we have taken numerous steps to help ensure that all children in Connecticut have access to quality education and opportunities to excel academically.

And as evidence of our commitment to education, we worked hard to achieve a balanced budget that did not rely on cuts to state education funding, which towns like Windsor depend on.

In our efforts to improve education, we took new steps to close the achievement gap – the disparity in academic performance between groups of students. We passed legislation that will establish a task force to address achievement gaps in Connecticut. The task force will look for ways to close the gaps in elementary, middle and high schools by Jan. 1, 2020.

We streamlined the process to get qualified teachers in charter schools and to eliminate delays in the process for determining if a student is in need of special education and related services.

In addition, we passed legislation establishing a new state Department of Early Education and Child Development. This new department will bring together a variety of state programs concerning early childhood education to form one cohesive department with the goal of providing the means to lessen the learning achievement gap within the state for children ages birth to 8 years.

We also have markedly increased the educational requirements for teachers and early childhood educators in state-funded programs.

By 2015, 50 percent of the teaching staff must have a degree in early childhood education, childhood development or a related field, or they must have a teaching certificate with an endorsement in early childhood or special education. By 2020, all teaching staff must have one of those degrees.

By expanding educational opportunities for all, students who are expelled from school may now participate in adult education programs without being required to officially withdraw from school.

We have also given the commissioner of education the power to issue waivers to local school districts to employ substitute teachers who do not hold bachelor's degrees, but otherwise are qualified to work as substitute teachers.

To improve the physical safety of students and school personnel, we passed legislation requiring all public schools, beginning in 2012, to install carbon monoxide detectors.

Passed unanimously by the General Assembly this year and recently signed into law by the Governor, this legislation (SB 1138) expands Connecticut’s anti-bullying statutes to include acts of bullying, harassment and intimidation that use websites, social networks or mobile phones and that undermine other students’ education.

Connecticut currently requires each board of education to develop and implement a prevention and intervention strategy to address bullying. This strategy must include provisions on reporting, investigation, notification and intervention. The current law also permits the addressing of bullying outside of the school setting if it has a direct and negative impact on a student's academic performance or safety in school.

Bullying and cyberbullying often have powerfully negative effects on students’ education. We have heard from students who have found it hard to attend class, walk down the hallway, or focus on their homework due to bullying and cyberbullying.

Ensuring a safe a learning environment for our children is an ongoing challenge and cyberbullying is becoming far too common either through email, texting, posting insults on Facebook or through other online channels.

It is estimated that as many as one in four of Connecticut’s high school students are bullied each year. Much of this bullying is now occurring through text messages and online.

Most of the discussion regarding cyberbullying has focused on the high school level, yet after listening to younger children during a public hearing it was clear the issue of cyberbullying was more widespread than people first believed. In fact, it was reported that most elementary school students are concerned about cyberbullying.

Currently six states have enacted laws dealing with cyberbullying and one of the challenges continues to be how to develop a response to changing technology without infringing on students’ constitutional rights to free speech.

Connecticut has taken a leading role in meeting that challenge by recognizing and understanding how new technologies impact our communities - and in particular our schools.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles’ plan to cut both services and hours of operation at its offices in Enfield and elsewhere in the state as part of a cost-saving effort is being sharply questioned by north-central Connecticut lawmakers.

Rep. Peggy Sayers, D-Windsor Locks, is on the legislature’s Transportation Committee, which oversees the DMV. She also lives in a town served by the Enfield branch.

“I’m not sure that that’s absolutely the right decision,” she said Wednesday. “I would want to see very good logical reasons and cost savings.”

Sayers pointed to the large building in Enfield. She’s concerned that if the DMV is downsizing there, it won’t have as much need for the space and could shutter it altogether.

“Do they really need that big building? What are their plans for Enfield?”

And Sayers said the trip to Wethersfield could mean more stress for young drivers taking their driving tests.

“When somebody is getting their license for the first time and they’re a new driver, it’s a very anxious time,” she said. “It probably would raise the anxiety quite a bit.”

State Rep. David W. Kiner, in whose 59th House District the Enfield office is located, today called the reorganization “unacceptable.”

The plan, announced Wednesday by Commissioner Melody E. Currey, will leave the DMV with only four “regional service centers” — in Wethersfield, Windham, Waterbury, and Bridgeport — at which such services as new driver’s licenses, road tests, and eye examinations will be available.

“The agency has been reviewing operations for several months with a focus on finding ways to regionalize some services and reduce costs,” Currey said in a statement.

The Windham office, in the town’s Willimantic section, is now considered a satellite office with limited services. But it will be expanded to become the go-to facility for all of eastern Connecticut.

Despite being rechristened a “full-service branch,” Enfield’s DMV office is being downgraded, as are offices in Danbury, Hamden, New Britain, Norwalk, Norwich, and Old Saybrook. They still will provide license renewals and a variety of other registration and title services. Registration renewals will be handled only through the mail or online.

The changes drew criticism from north-central Connecticut lawmakers, who say they want a better explanation from the DMV administration. Enfield’s DMV had been the only full service branch north of Hartford. The drive to Wethersfield from some of the towns served by the branch can be about 40 minutes.

The creation of the regional centers will take effect regardless of whether unionized state employees accept or reject a concession agreement, Currey said. Voting is expected to take place over the next week. The DMV already had announced plans to close the Enfield office altogether on Aug. 20 if the agreement fails in the rank-and-file union vote.

Hours at DMV offices also will be scaled back beginning Friday, from the current 39 hours a week to 37½ hours. They’ll open slightly earlier, at 7:45 a.m. instead of 8 a.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and close at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

The big change will be on Thursdays, when offices have been open until 6:30 p.m. They’ll now be open only from 9:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“These new hours will help people conduct their business at the DMV before they go to work, after work on Thursdays, and on Saturdays,” Currey said. “We continue to encourage people to do as much of their DMV business online as possible.”

Kiner, D-Enfield, expects to reach out to the rest of the area’s legislative delegation to push to undo the change.

“I’m all for streamlining government where it makes sense,” Kiner said today. “To make my constituents drive to Wethersfield or Willimantic is unacceptable.”

Thanks to legislation we championed to help people in these difficult times, a critical law has been extended for homeowners facing foreclosure.

The new law offers homeowners facing foreclosure the opportunity to have court proceedings held in abeyance while they seek mediation.

In essence, the new law, Public Act 11-201, gives homeowners an opportunity to participate in the foreclosure mediation program without simultaneously engaging in litigation for up to eight months.

Unfortunately, after the financial crisis of 2008, our housing market is recovering slowly and many homeowners still find themselves in difficult situations and sometimes regrettably they wind up in foreclosure.

The new legislation enhances what is already a national model for helping people with foreclosure and not to burden them with the extra demands of litigation while they try to work it out with banks.

In response to the national foreclosure crisis, the General Assembly took action in 2008 to protect and assist homeowners by establishing a Foreclosure Mediation Program. The new legislation extends the program to June 30, 2014. The program assists lenders and homeowners in negotiating a mutually agreeable resolution of a mortgage foreclosure action through the mediation process. Since the program’s inception, over 9,000 cases have completed mediation and the program has achieved a 79 percent settlement rate.

As our economy continues to struggle, it is important for homeowners facing foreclosure to take advantage of mediation and loan programs offered by the state that can help keep families in their homes.

There are emergency loans for homeowners available through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) as well as other assistance from the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.

Sadly, for most homeowners, mediation is the first opportunity they have to meet face to face with a representative from their mortgage company.

Originally created three years ago, the mediation program is now considered a national model for helping to keep families facing foreclosure in their homes. To date, some 5,000 homeowners in our state have been helped. Almost three-quarters of those participating in foreclosure mediation reach a settlement with the lender.

Families get to keep their homes, banks don’t have to sell or auction properties, and neighborhoods don’t have to deal with falling property values and increased crime that often come with foreclosures.

Currently, there is about $30 million in aid available from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP) to assist homeowners facing foreclosure. Applications for this program are now being accepted by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). Connecticut is one of only five states HUD has approved to administer the EHLP, a forgivable loan program designed to help unemployed or underemployed families pay their mortgages.

Information about the program is available at the CHFA website www.CHFA.ORG and by calling 877-571-CHFA (2432). Eligibility requirements will be explained to those homeowners who request information. In addition, CHFA is scheduling a series of statewide “housing fairs” to allow for face-to-face inquires about the program.

There is also help available through the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.  Classes are offered across the state that  feature a manual  that  walks homeowners through the foreclosure process, including all forms needed for court.

People can contact the Connecticut Fair Housing Center at (860) 247-4400 or www.ctfairhousing.org. The Connecticut Department of Banking also has a Foreclosure Assistance Hotline: 1-877-472-8313 and website www.ct.gov/dob.

Most all of us at one time have probably flown out of Bradley to vacation destinations such as Florida or California, but did you realize our nearby airport is a multi-billion dollar economic driver for the region’s economy and its future is critical to sustaining long term economic growth in the state?

Besides vacationers and visitors, Bradley serves business travelers, commercial shipping and supports the many businesses that surround the airport. And, for the first time in five years, Bradley Airport had more passengers, going from 5.3 million in 2009 to 5.4 million in 2010. New airline carriers and additional destinations along with terminal renovations and upgrades are credited with the increase.

To take advantage of Bradley’s proximity and potential, we helped pass legislation that aims to better utilize this important state asset by creating a more independent airport governing board. That bill (SB1003) was recently signed into law by Governor Malloy on June 30 and took effect July 1.

The new Connecticut Airport Authority takes over the management and operations of Bradley and the state’s five other smaller airports, such as Brainard in Hartford, from the Department of Transportation (DOT). Authority functions includes setting budgets, hiring employees, marketing, raising revenue through fees and borrowing, as well as making agreements with airlines and other businesses. Airport workers will continue to be state employees and all six facilities will still be state property.

Being part of a large state agency such as DOT, which focuses mostly on roads, bridges and mass transit, airport administrators were often hampered by departmental bureaucracy and didn’t have the freedom to respond to a fast changing aviation industry. Whether it is attracting new airlines or adding new routes for existing carriers, the previous organizational structure was clearly too slow and encumbered to react.

In addition to improving airport promotion and marketing efforts, the ultimate goal would also be to make each facility financially self sufficient.

Both the House of Representatives and Senate passed the Connecticut Airport Authority bill on unanimous votes. The legislation was the subject of a public hearing before the General Assembly’s Commerce Committee where it originated and was also later approved by the Transportation, Labor, Government Administration, Finance and Appropriations committees.

Just last year, we created a Bradley Development Zone which extends “enterprise zone” tax incentives to manufacturers and other airport-related businesses that create jobs in designated areas of Windsor, Windsor Locks, Suffield, and East Granby. Combined with the mission of the new Connecticut Airport Authority, the future of Bradley Airport and the region’s economy will be looking a little brighter.

The hospital in Farmington is considered an integrated academic medical center, which improves the health of Connecticut's residents through the innovative integration of education, research and clinical care.

The expansion plan includes construction of a patient care tower, upgrades to the main building and the creation of a new ambulatory care center and outpatient facilities. The proposal also calls for renovating existing research space and building additional parking.

The legislation, which we championed, authorizes $262.9 million in new bonding under the UConn 2000 infrastructure program, $338 million in previously approved bonding and $69 million from the health center. Finally, the construction of the outpatient center would be funded by $203 million in private funding.

The proposal is an urgently needed economic development plan that will make Connecticut a leader in bioscience research.

An estimated 3,000 new construction jobs will be created along with adding 100 students to the medical school, 48 students to the dental school and about 50 medical researchers on the Farmington campus.

Additionally, the legislation establishes a loan forgiveness program for students who pursue primary care and remain in Connecticut.

These provisions will attract students; mobilize workers, and investment in an industry that is global, technology-based, and innovation-centered.

Finally, the bill extends a notification date concerning the transfer of neonatal intensive care units beds from John Dempsey Hospital to Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

The project retains a requirement that the State Bond Commission allocate state general obligation bonds for UConn health network initiatives before UConn may expend funds for new construction and renovation.

The bill also reduces, from $30 million to $22 million, existing GO bond authorizations for the health network initiatives by eliminating two projects from these initiatives.

We believe this new facility will be not only a viable long-term solution for the current health center, which has run several multimillion-dollar deficits in the past decade, but also as a magnet for attracting students and keeping the state staffed with doctors and dentists.

With its additional classroom and lab space, the updated teaching hospital will help lift the UConn medical and dental schools further up the national rankings and provide training for doctors, dentists, technicians and other medical practitioners.

The first bill (HB 6629) increases access to restraining and protective orders, improves information sharing between state agencies, facilitates victims’ access to support services, provides law enforcement with more tools and calls upon the judicial branch to recommend long term solutions.

The legislation was a result of recommendations by the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence, of which we are both members. We held a series of meetings to hear from domestic violence advocacy groups, survivors, police, prosecutors and judges, with a focus on improving both law enforcement and victim services.

Specifically, the new 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. In addition, it improves access to domestic violence services by requiring police officers to provide victims with information about regional domestic violence programs so they can obtain trauma counseling and other emergency services. It also creates a task force charged with developing a statewide law enforcement model policy for police responding to incidents of domestic violence.

Further, the law 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 if the offender is barred from possessing them due to a restraining or protective order.

Another provision requires the judicial branch to disclose to the state Department of Children and Families information indicating if a defendant poses a threat to a child. It also permits judicial family relations counselors to share information about a defendant to pretrial program staff to ensure they provide appropriate services.

A second bill (SB 28) also takes aim at domestic violence offenders by reforming Connecticut’s bail bond process.

The legislation prohibits bail bondsmen and agents from “undercutting,” which occurs when they compete for business by discounting the premium due on a bond by not charging clients the statutorily required amount. As a result, defendants post bond more easily and are quickly released back into the community without any “cooling off” period. Undercutting has played a role in a number of serious and fatal domestic violence incidents.

The legislation also prohibits bail bond agents and professional bail bondsmen from soliciting business inside courthouses, police stations, correctional institutions, community correctional centers and detention facilities. In addition, it establishes standards for record retention and reporting requirements.

Not only were two bills passed this year addressing domestic violence issues, but the state budget included funding that will allow domestic violence shelters to remain open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This is important because domestic violence tends to occur more often on nights and weekends.

With the 2011 session of the Connecticut General Assembly just completed earlier this week, we wanted to share with you a few bills that we helped pass that will hopefully enhance the quality of life here in Windsor.

We were very pleased to lead passage of a bill (HB6557) that gives towns and the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) more protection from lawsuits stemming from recreational accidents. This is important, because a lawsuit resulting in multi-million dollar judgment against the MDC could have caused their properties such as the popular West Hartford reservoir to become off limits to the public.

It could have also forced towns to limit access to parks and other public lands. This bill will help guarantee the public’s right to use municipal land for recreation with towns not having to worry about liability and lawsuits that are not well-grounded.

Another piece of legislation (HB6100) we backed authorizes the creation of two special development districts in Windsor that will encourage new business growth, job creation and residential housing. Both the Great Pond and Millbrook Greens Improvement Districts have the potential to add to the town’s grand list and thus help keep property taxes stable while providing employment opportunities, as well as entertainment and recreational options for residents and visitors.

A village setting is planned for Great Pond that includes about 4,000 residential units, office and retail space, restaurants, year-round farmers’ market and access to the Farmington River and Northwest Park trails. Millbrook is a planned residential golf course development in close proximity to Windsor Center that will also encourage the continued growth of the Day Hill corporate area.

We also sponsored a bill (HB 5184) that allows nonprofit organizations to offer complimentary coupon books as incentives for purchasing raffle tickets. Windsor has many nonprofit organizations, including religious and civic-minded groups, veterans associations and fire departments, which rely on raffles as a critical source of fundraising.

Many of these groups reported to us that the Division of Special Revenue deemed their offering of discount coupons in violation of the state’s Bazaar and Raffle Act law, thus compromising the success of fundraising efforts. Coupon books often consist of discounts offered by businesses such as local restaurants.

Another bill (HB5780) we sponsored will simplify the process for regionalization to encourage municipalities to work together to find efficiencies and reduce the cost of delivering important municipal services. Called “interlocal agreements,” the bill cuts much of the red tape required to implement cross-town cooperation on services that a town by law now provides individually.

This is a great way to help reduce property taxes for residents by spreading out costs among multiple towns. Examples of services that some municipalities share include garbage collection and road maintenance.

While state budget finances rightfully dominated news throughout the legislative session, we thought it was important to let you know about some of the other issues that were dealt with at the Capitol. In future columns we will further detail many of the new laws that will be taking effect in the coming months.

With the 2011 session of the Connecticut General Assembly just completed earlier this week, we wanted to share with you a few bills that we helped pass that will hopefully enhance the quality of life here in Windsor.

We were very pleased to lead passage of a bill (HB6557) that gives towns and the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) more protection from lawsuits stemming from recreational accidents. This is important, because a lawsuit resulting in multi-million dollar judgment against the MDC could have caused their properties such as the popular West Hartford reservoir to become off limits to the public.

It could have also forced towns to limit access to parks and other public lands. This bill will help guarantee the public’s right to use municipal land for recreation with towns not having to worry about liability and lawsuits that are not well-grounded.

Another piece of legislation (HB6100) we backed authorizes the creation of two special development districts in Windsor that will encourage new business growth, job creation and residential housing. Both the Great Pond and Millbrook Greens Improvement Districts have the potential to add to the town’s grand list and thus help keep property taxes stable while providing employment opportunities, as well as entertainment and recreational options for residents and visitors.

A village setting is planned for Great Pond that includes about 4,000 residential units, office and retail space, restaurants, year-round farmers’ market and access to the Farmington River and Northwest Park trails. Millbrook is a planned residential golf course development in close proximity to Windsor Center that will also encourage the continued growth of the Day Hill corporate area.

We also sponsored a bill (HB 5184) that allows nonprofit organizations to offer complimentary coupon books as incentives for purchasing raffle tickets. Windsor has many nonprofit organizations, including religious and civic-minded groups, veterans associations and fire departments, which rely on raffles as a critical source of fundraising.

Many of these groups reported to us that the Division of Special Revenue deemed their offering of discount coupons in violation of the state’s Bazaar and Raffle Act law, thus compromising the success of fundraising efforts. Coupon books often consist of discounts offered by businesses such as local restaurants.

Another bill (HB5780) we sponsored will simplify the process for regionalization to encourage municipalities to work together to find efficiencies and reduce the cost of delivering important municipal services. Called “interlocal agreements,” the bill cuts much of the red tape required to implement cross-town cooperation on services that a town by law now provides individually.

This is a great way to help reduce property taxes for residents by spreading out costs among multiple towns. Examples of services that some municipalities share include garbage collection and road maintenance.

While state budget finances rightfully dominated news throughout the legislative session, we thought it was important to let you know about some of the other issues that were dealt with at the Capitol. In future columns we will further detail many of the new laws that will be taking effect in the coming months.

When the General Assembly convened in January we faced an unprecedented challenge – a $3.5 billion budget deficit and an economy still trying to recover from the nation’s worst recession since the Great Depression.

To put our state back on solid financial ground, Governor Dannel P. Malloy proposed a budget that called for all residents of Connecticut to share in the sacrifice. There are many parts of the governor’s budget that we take issue with. Unfortunately legislators can’t pick and choose parts they like or dislike. Our support for this budget was based upon achieving certain goals such as municipal aid, accomplishing the overall objective of balancing the budget without borrowing or eliminating vital social service programs, and realizing consolidation and streamlining of state government.

So what are examples of things that we didn’t like? We would have preferred a higher graduated income tax for upper end wage earners so that the “pain” was more equitably distributed. We would have kept sales tax exemptions on items like clothing and pet grooming. We would have kept the property tax credit at $500. We would have explored more cuts by eliminating duplication, fraud, waste and proposed more streamlining and efficiencies. We would have eliminated double dipping salaries for retired workers.

While the governor’s plan was constructed to balance the budget without gimmicks and borrowing, it still needed a lot of work because of the harsh impact it would have on Windsor and its residents. Even though our approach would have been somewhat different, we do give our governor credit for creating a balanced budget and for trying to allocate deficit reduction through the roughly equal reductions of spending, state employee concessions and tax increases.

As an example, Governor Malloy proposed ending the state’s funding reimbursement program to towns for tax credits given to manufacturers. Elimination of the Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) program, however, would have cost Windsor $1,043,076. We met several times with Budget Director Ben Barnes and told him that unless this sum was fully restored to Windsor, that we could not support the budget. We prevailed.

The governor also wanted to eliminate the $500 property tax credit for homeowners, raise the tax on gasoline and add new taxes on coupons, hair cuts, car washes and other items we take for granted. Once again, we met with the governor’s office to oppose these and other taxes. We prevailed by eliminating new taxes on gas, discount coupons, hair cuts, car washes etc. We helped achieve a revived $300 property tax credit.

Thankfully, after many hours of negotiations, we and our colleagues in the legislature were able to reach a budget compromise with the governor. The end result is that Windsor will not lose any state funding because of the elimination of the PILOT program. Additionally, a $300 property tax credit was retained for residents and the 3-cent gas tax increase and some of the other proposed sales taxes were eliminated.

On top of that, Windsor will receive an increase of $254,716 in municipal aid for fiscal year 2012 and increase of $294,376 for 2013 when compared to the $13,653,957 the town was appropriated in 2011. We kept in daily contact with Windsor’s town manager so that this revenue could be included in Windsor’s budget to help keep tax increases at a minimum. We were happy to see that this continued state aid kept Windsor’s proposed budget increase much lower than surrounding towns.

In addition, for the first time ever, we will have a new Earned Income Tax Credit program to provide financial relief to as many as 190,000 low-income workers in the state. This will help offset some of the tax increases imposed by the governor on necessities such as food and clothing.

In order to achieve a balanced budget fair to all we had to make significant spending reductions. To accomplish that we consolidated 30 percent of our state agencies while maintaining important investments that will help grow businesses and protect families.

The governor also negotiated a labor concession package that is good for taxpayers and the state’s workers. The union agreement, however, fell short of what the governor had hoped to receive in concessions and he will now have to make further budget adjustments. We will press the governor to make up the difference with additional spending cuts and we will oppose any borrowing, cuts to municipal aid or increases in taxes. The same will hold true if the union agreement is not approved.

But if all goes well, the economy continues to improve and a budget surplus occurs, we should look at rolling back some of the tax increases and especially consider restoring the $500 property tax credit.

After three years of economic hardship, we can finally say that our state’s finances are stabilizing and Connecticut is moving forward on the road to economic recovery.

Although the governor’s budget still includes higher taxes – a sacrifice that we all will have to share – we now have a budget that is truly balanced. A budget that does not include borrowing for paying our current expenses. A budget that does not include accounting gimmicks. A budget that does not further defer our pension obligations.

But unlike budgets that were recently passed in New York and New Jersey, our state budget protects our cities and towns and does not pass the burden on to local property taxpayers. As we all know, the property tax is the most regressive of all taxes. In supporting the governor’s budget, we considered the alternative of his plan to eliminate significant town aid, and the resulting property tax increases that municipalities would have to enact to balance local budgets.

There is no question that we had to make tough and unpopular decisions, but in the end our state budget is honest and balanced. Governor Malloy’s budget, while imperfect, will move Connecticut forward. Although it was not our first choice of budgets, creating certainty and transparency, will allow for predictability in helping businesses to grow and residents to plan.

Voting for the budget may not have been easy politically, but given the adjustments we fought to achieve, and considering the alternative plan to slash local aid and critical social services, we believe that it was the right thing to do for the State and our the residents of Windsor.

No one should be denied access to their own medical records and House Bill 6372, An Act Concerning Patient Access to Records Maintained by Health Care Institutions would guarantee that right.

The legislation would permit people to conduct an on-site examination of their health records kept by a healthcare institution.

The issue is pretty cut and dried. Patients can take better care of themselves and make more informed decisions about their healthcare when they have access to as much information as possible and in a timely manner.

Simply put, no one should ever be denied the opportunity to look at their own health records.

This bill that we both voted for will protect that right for individuals and also require the establishment of a complaint process to ensure its enforcement.

The bill  establishes a hearing process within the Department of Public Health (DPH) to address complaints concerning lack of access to such records.

Under current law, health care institutions such as hospitals and other facilities must provide patients with their health records within 30 days of a written request, or upon completion of the record if a request is received with 30 days of a patient's discharge.

The bill would allow, upon the patient or their representative's request, an on-site examination of the medical records within the same time periods.

If an institution fails to comply with a patient's record access request, the bill allows for the filing of a written complaint with the DPH. A hearing would then be held within 30 days, resulting in an order to disclose records within five days of the hearing if the health care institution is found at fault.

Without question, examining your own medical records is a right that every individual should have. This legislation will guarantee that.

According to the proclamation issued by the town,

"Officer Michael Tustin is highly motivated and committed to the citizens of The Town of Windsor and the members of the police department.

Officer Michael Tustin and daughter Shaela during last year's
WPD ceremony where he was honored for Excellence in Police Duty.

Officer Michael Tustin is a life long resident of Windsor where he attended Windsor High School graduating in 1996. Throughout his youth Michael was interested in law enforcement and joined the Windsor Police Explorers with whom he spent 10 years as a member.

After high school Michael attended Westfield State College where in 2000 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Michael returned to his hometown, Windsor, where he was hired by the Town's Highway Department as a Maintainer.

In December 2001 Officer Tustin's life long dream of becoming a police officer came to fruition when he was hired full time by the Windsor Police Department.

During the past 9 years Officer Tustin has worked primarily in the patrol division where he has shown that he is a highly motivated and productive officer. Officer Tustin has served within the Windsor Police Departments Crime Suppression Unit working on narcotic violations within the town.

Over the course of Officer Tustin's career he has received numerous awards and citations for outstanding work including three awards for life saving. In April 2003 Officer Tustin assisted two Windsor Firefighters in the rescue of a man on Carriage Way who in an attempt to commit suicide set his home on fire. Officer Tustin and the firefighters entered the home without regard for their own safety and pulled the man to safety.

In July 2007, Officer Tustin responded to a call of a 50 year old man was having difficulty breathing; the call was dispatched as cardiac arrest. Officer Tustin along with others officers arrived on scene and took over the CPR already being performed by a neighbor. The patient was transported to the hospital where he survived.

Again in October of 2008 Officer Michael Tustin discovered a fire in a residence at Shad Run Terrace on Henry Street. With the assistance of Officer Andrew Johnson an unresponsive elderly victim was rescued.

During his career Officer Tustin has always displayed a high level of self initiated activity and received an award from the Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association for his work on street level narcotics investigations.

Today Officer Tustin works as a patrol officer and is a certified Field Training Officer and recently became trained as a Crisis Intervention Officer becoming a part of Windsor Police Department's crisis intervention team where he continues to excel.

Officer Michael Tustin's constant hard work and diligence makes him not only a valuable member of the Windsor Police Department but a role model to new officers joining the force."

It's the second happy event for officer Tustin this year, as he and his wife just returned from their honeymoon.

Our congratulations and our best wishes.

NCSL’s Health Committee serves as a forum for legislators to learn about and share information regarding health programs and health policy initiatives in other states, and to educate Congress and federal agencies about state concerns regarding developments in federal health initiatives and programs.  Recent issues addressed by the committee include Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicaid, health care cost containment and health care access.

“Public health is one of the most important responsibilities of government,” said Sayers, a nurse by profession. “I’m looking forward to working with and learning from my colleagues across the country to help develop improved health policies.”

NCSL is a bipartisan organization that supports state lawmakers throughout the country with research and technical assistance as well as providing opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on pressing state issues. NCSL also serves as an advocate for states’ interests with the federal government.

“Rep. Sayers’ state legislative experience will allow her to represent Connecticut well as she undertakes this new challenge,” said Speaker Donovan. “I am confident Peggy’s work on this committee will prove beneficial for our state as she further involves herself in health policy.”

Rep. Sayers serves the 60th Assembly District and is a Deputy Majority Leader in the House of Representatives. She is also a member of the Legislature’s Appropriations, Higher Education and Transportation committees.

For example, there are emergency loans for homeowners available through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) as well as other assistance from the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.

In addition, we are backing two bills (HB 6463 & HB 6351) currently making their way through the General Assembly that would continue to fund the state’s successful foreclosure mediation process beyond its current statutory sunset date of June 30, 2011, and improve it by delaying any legal action against a homeowner while mediation is ongoing.

The opportunity to participate in the foreclosure mediation program without simultaneously engaging in litigation should increase its success.

Sadly, for most homeowners, mediation is the first opportunity they have to meet face to face with a representative from their mortgage company.

Originally created three years ago, the mediation program is now considered a national model for helping to keep families facing foreclosure in their homes. To date, some 5,000 homeowners in our state have been helped. Almost three-quarters of those participating in foreclosure mediation reach a settlement with the lender.

Families get to keep their homes, banks don’t have to sell or auction properties, and neighborhoods don’t have to deal with falling property values and increased crime that often come with foreclosures.

Per Governor Malloy’s recent announcement, there is $33 million in aid from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP) to assist homeowners facing foreclosure. Applications for this program are now being accepted by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA).  Connecticut is one of only five states HUD has approved to administer the EHLP, a forgivable loan program designed to help unemployed or underemployed families pay their mortgages.

Information about the program is available at the CHFA website www.CHFA.ORG and by calling 877-571-CHFA (2432). Eligibility requirements will be explained to those homeowners who request information. In addition, CHFA is scheduling a series of statewide “housing fairs” to allow for face-to-face inquires about the program. 

There is also help available through the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.  Classes are offered across the state that  feature a manual  that  walks homeowners through the foreclosure process, including all forms needed for court.

People can contact the Connecticut Fair Housing Center at (860) 247-4400 or www.ctfairhousing.org  The Connecticut Department of Banking also has a Foreclosure Assistance Hotline: 1-877-472-8313 and website www.ct.gov/dob .

While we cannot predict with any certainty whether the home foreclosure crisis has peaked, it is clear that thousands of families are still facing the possibility of losing their homes. If you know someone in this situation please let hem know about the help that is available.

This is great news for our towns because the money ultimately will help create jobs, spur more economic development and help meet our transportation needs.

Although the funding for the rail line was previously allocated, the state would have lost the money altogether, if it had not been released to Connecticut by April 8.

High-speed rail will open up a new world of economic opportunities for Connecticut, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in releasing the funds.

The Obama Administration's initial $40 million investment in upgrading the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line will not only create jobs now but also help ensure that Connecticut residents have access to world class high-speed rail service in the years to come and economic opportunities throughout New England.

The planned rail line will span 62 miles from New Haven to Springfield, with station service that includes Windsor and Windsor Locks.

High speed rail service through Windsor will energize economic development along the transportation corridor that is critical to our state's economy.

Just less than two months ago, we celebrated the State Bond Commission's approval of $5 million for mass transit station area development in Connecticut. This money is available for upgrading the train station in Windsor and efforts to obtain the funds are under way.

Windsor's historic downtown train station was originally built in 1871. After extensive renovations in 1988 it earned designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently the station serves both Amtrak passengers and bus ridership via Connecticut Transit to downtown Hartford and Bradley International Airport.

Upgrading the train station area in Windsor will not only complete a vital link in our rail transportation from New Haven to Springfield but it will mean new business opportunities for Windsor, promote smart residential growth, and make Windsor a destination location.

Though everyone seems to agree that investment in prevention saves money in the long run, government often fails to embrace this approach because we are sadly caught up in short election cycles and now a 24-hour news media. We want prevention to pay off right now.

But here's the wonderful thing about investing in kids: It pays off now as well as later. This has been proven with new programs that help kids get on the right track long before they come in contact with the criminal justice system.

It costs taxpayers $377 per night every time we put a child in juvenile detention, providing a child with an experience more likely to traumatize than rehabilitate. In fiscal year 2006-2007, we sent 493 children to detention who had not even committed a crime. They were runaways, kids fighting with parents, and so on.

Last year, we did not lock up a single child for that kind of behavior. Overall detention numbers went from 1,901 to 1,248 in that period. That's a quarter of a million dollars in savings for every day those kids did not spend in detention. The mean stay in juvenile detention in Connecticut is 14 days.

Why the drop? Connecticut decided to start putting its money at the front end of the system, where we can do the most good, rather than the back end of the system, where we spend the most money for the least impressive results. We started providing more services at the community level to address problems like truancy or family dysfunction before children got involved in delinquency. In minor cases of delinquent behavior, we looked for ways to hold children accountable in school and at home without sending them to secure facilities. The juvenile court saw more than 16,000 new delinquency cases in 2003-04 and less than 8,000 last year.

As the juvenile system got smaller, we saw the opportunity to add 16-year-olds accused of minor offenses to the juvenile system. Connecticut had been one of only three states to try these young people as adults, no matter how minor the charge, and to send them to facilities run by adult corrections. Most states set the age of adulthood at 18 because data show that the juvenile system is better at rehabilitation, having been designed for that express purpose. Furthermore, juveniles sent to adult court are more likely to escalate into violence.

The transition of adding 16-year-olds to the juvenile system went even better than we could have hoped. While we'd heard predictions that the size of the system would surge 40 percent when older children were included, actual numbers were only 22 percent. Law enforcement had seats at the table when the legislation was drafted, so accommodations were made to ensure that police could investigate cases without undue impediments and that existing facilities would be adequate.

Continuing smart policies that keep kids on the right track will mean that the system can stay lean enough to absorb 17-year-olds as well in 2012. This is a win-win situation. We'll be diverting kids who don't belong in the juvenile system to more cost-effective community services. We'll be easing overcrowding in the adult system, and at the same time sending teens where they'll get training they need to contribute to society rather than be a perpetual burden upon it.

Under Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal, Windsor would lose $1,043,076; Bloomfield, $1,440,606; and Windsor Locks, $1,567,627. 

Although the governor has tried to assure us that the towns would be compensated in other ways for the revenue loss, we are unconvinced that the overall plan would truly hold towns “harmless.” 

The MME provides for a 100 percent exemption of local property taxes on qualified, newly acquired manufacturing machinery and equipment. The State of Connecticut then reimburses municipalities for a portion of the exemptions under a Payment in Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) program.

At a recent meeting with the governor’s staff members, we told them the PILOT program is critical and we would have to explore other options. We have taken the leadership in meeting with fellow legislators whose towns are also impacted by the loss of PILOT program dollars to pursue a joint strategy in recouping this money. We have also worked with the Appropriations Committee in adding a revenue line to hold the towns harmless from the loss of this PILOT money.

Finally, we have been talking to Windsor Town Manager Peter Souza about creative ways to preserve and enhance town revenues.

James Finley, executive director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, has also been meeting with the governor’s staff on the towns’ behalf to find acceptable budget options.

In these difficult economic times, Windsor and its surrounding towns need new revenue streams and we are championing various bills that would meet that need.

One bill very important for Windsor calls for increasing the tax on lodging by 3 percent. Under our bill, Windsor and other municipalities where lodging is located would receive one percent of the increase. The remaining two-thirds of the new revenue would be divided so that half of the money is distributed to each municipality in the state and the other half distributed to each regional council of governments.

Another bill we have introduced would allow for a small portion of state sales tax money to be transferred back to Windsor and other towns and cities based on their populations. The amount would be one-half of one percent of the sales tax collected by the state and would be given back to each municipality in the state on a per capita basis.

These new revenues would really help Windsor at a time when the Town of Windsor desperately needs aid.

Speakers at the forum included representatives of the Bradley Advisory Board, Bradley Development League, Metro Hartford Alliance, Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, and State Rep. Timothy Larson (D-East Hartford, South Windsor) who is Executive Director of Tweed New Haven Airport. Members of the legislature’s Transportation and Commerce committees also participated.

“Bradley is a multi-billion dollar economic driver for Connecticut and its future is critical to sustaining long term growth,” Sayers said. “When you add our other airports into the mix, particularly as it relates to business travel, there is potential for even greater growth.”

For the first time in five years, Bradley Airport served more passengers going from 5.3 million in 2009 to 5.4 million in 2010. New airline carriers and additional destinations along with terminal renovations and upgrades are credited with the increase.

Pending legislation introduced by Sayers (HB 6139) and Governor Dannel P. Malloy (SB 1003) aim to better utilize state airport assets to encourage economic growth by increasing the independence and authority of airport governing boards. Sayers’ bill is currently before the Transportation Committee while the Governor’s bill was recently approved by the Commerce Committee.

State Rep. Peggy Sayers speaks from the platform of the Windsor train station about new state funding available for station area development along the future New Haven-Hartford-Springfield high speed rail line. State Rep. David Baram (left) joined with Sayers to talk about what it means for Windsor.

“This funding will help create local jobs and encourage economic growth in the area,” said Sayers, a member of the legislature’s Transportation Committee. “Our community is very excited about Windsor being a major station stop on the new rail line.”

The Bond Commission approved a total of $5 million for a pilot program to be administered by the state Department of Transportation for planning and facilitating mass transit station area development. Available grants will range from $250,000 to $1 million to be used for projects within a one-half mile vicinity of stations.

“Upgrading the train station area in Windsor will not only complete a vital link in our rail transportation from New Haven to Springfield but it will mean new business opportunities for Windsor, promote smart residential growth, and make Windsor a destination location,” said Baram.

Windsor’s historic downtown train station was originally built in 1871 and after extensive renovations in 1988 earned designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently the station serves both Amtrak passengers and bus ridership via Connecticut Transit to downtown Hartford and Bradley International Airport.    

“I am happy that Windsor is eligible to receive this money to help develop and improve the train station area,”' O'Brien said. “I am a supporter of public transportation and in favor of projects that increase access to it. It will be a pleasure to be able to take the train and bypass the traffic along Route 91.”

“As the New Haven-Springfield rail line comes closer to reality, it is important that our communities are fully prepared to take advantage of its benefits,” said House Speaker Donovan, who began pushing for commuter rail service with legislation in 1995. “These funds would be greatly beneficial to a project that will mean jobs, a cleaner environment and less congested roads for all of Connecticut.”

The planned rail line will span 62 miles from New Haven to Springfield, with station service that will include in addition to Windsor - Meriden, Hartford and Windsor Locks.

New rail cars, train stations, and other transportation items dominated the agenda Thursday of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s first State Bond Commission meeting.

The panel approved releasing money to purchase the last batch of Metro-North rail cars as well as money for new train stations — including one in Windsor — and for paving projects in Windsor and Manchester.

After the session, Malloy, who chairs the commission, said transportation is a major focus of his administration. “If you’re asking if I’m ‘transportation-centric’ — the answer is yes,” he told reporters.

In all, the commission approved the release of $514.2 million in borrowing, through bonds and other transfers. The meetings usually occur monthly, but this was Malloy’s first since taking office Jan. 5 because snowstorms had caused meeting cancellations.

The commission approved funding for projects in Manchester, Enfield, Windsor, and at Eastern Connecticut State University in Windham. Other projects that saw funding released include the computer and communication system devised after the 2007 Cheshire home invasion, and a new inmate tracking system for the Department of Correction.

The rail cars are the final 38 out of a batch of 380. They will be used on the New Haven and Shoreline East rail lines, and cost $81.6 million.

Malloy said he’s hopeful the first set of cars will complete testing and be on the tracks before the end of March. The rough winter put many of Metro-North rail cars out of commission and caused the Metropolitan Transit Authority to reduce trips on the line that links areas of this state with New York City.

Windsor train station, road work

In Windsor, money released Thursday will go toward developing a train station for use on the proposed New Haven to Springfield rail line. That project will share a total $5 million released for stations on the proposed New Britain to Hartford busway, the New Haven rail line, and in New London on the Shoreline East line.

Local officials, along with state Reps. Peggy Sayers, D-Windsor Locks, Elaine C. O’Brien, D-Suffield, David W. Baram, D-Bloomfield, and House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, were to attend a ceremony today at the Windsor train station on Center Street.

Paving projects in Manchester and Windsor also will see funding.

In Manchester, road resurfacing will occur on Interstate 84 from Interstate 291 to the Slater Street bridge. It’s expected to cost $10.5 million.

Local lawmakers applauded the funding.

“This span of highway is an important commuting link for not only Manchester, but between 90,000 to 120,000 vehicles daily,” Rep. Geoffrey R. Luxenberg, D-Manchester, said. “I’m pleased the state is committed to maintaining our critical transportation routes.”

And in Windsor, paving on Interstate 91 will stretch from Capen Street to Route 140. Its price tag is $6.3 million.

Enfield also is set to receive $238,000 for a study on the extension of public water to 27 residential properties on Salerno Drive, Rebecca Drive, and Broad Brook Road.

And Eastern Connecticut State University will get a new softball field in Mansfield, down the street from its campus. The commission released $2.9 million for the work.

The new criminal justice system, called the Criminal Justice Information System or the Connecticut Information Sharing System, is part of the state’s response to the 2007 Cheshire home invasion and murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11.

To date, $700,000 had been spent on planning for the system. Thursday’s move approved the release of $8 million for the project for equipment, software, and implementation. In all, the project is expected to cost $24.1 million.

It would enable all criminal justice and police agencies in the state to share information.

In a separate project, $30 million was released to replace the electronic offender information tracking system used by the state Department of Correction. It’s 30 years old.

Windsor has dozens of nonprofit organizations, including religious and civic-minded groups, veterans associations and fire departments, which rely on raffles as a critical source of fundraising, and we have to do everything we can to help them.

Coupon books often consist of restaurant discount coupons that help induce people to buy a raffle ticket that offers a prize to the winner. In this manner, a contributor feels like they are getting an incentive to purchase the raffle ticket, knowing that just a few people actually win the designated prize.

Sponsoring organizations such as the ones already mentioned perform an invaluable community service through the volunteer efforts of their members. It is important that the State of Connecticut not hinder or obstruct such fundraising efforts especially in these economic times. Without successful fundraising, sponsoring organizations will not have the funds necessary to provide the programming and community services that they have come to exemplify and embrace. Failure to successfully raise funds only hurts the people who are the beneficiaries of their social and community services.

The citizens of our state need the continued involvement and participation of our volunteer organizations, non-profits and charities, which provide many social services that government cannot offer.

When we were contacted by local religious institutions and non-profits, we were told that the Division of Special Revenue deemed the offer of discount coupons to be a violation of the Bazaar and Raffle Act (CGS Sections 7-170- to 7-186). As a result, sponsoring organizations have been restricted in their fundraising, and the success of their raffles has been substantially diminished.

No sponsoring organization wants to violate the existing statutes. But with our legislation, if it is enacted, sponsoring organizations will be able to comply with the law and hold successful fundraising events.

“The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy and I believe this should include being able to cast an absentee ballot upon request,” Sayers said. “As a society we need to encourage more people to exercise their right to vote and ‘no-excuse’ absentee ballots will help do this.”

Under present law, registered voters seeking an absentee ballot must provide a valid excuse as to why they cannot vote at their polling location on Election Day.  Reasons such as illness, military deployment and travel are considered acceptable under existing law. Currently, 30 states offer “no-excuse” absentee voting.

“’No-excuse’ absentee voting is a reform whose time has come,” Baram said. “We need to promote voter participation and eliminate barriers that deter people from voting. Many factors such as age, physical infirmities, transportation, work schedules and weather conditions prevent people from going to the polling stations to vote. ‘No-excuse’ absentee ballots provide another opportunity for all residents to vote.”

Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, the state’s chief election official, also supports the “no-excuse” absentee ballot concept as a way to increase election participation. Voter turnout for the statewide gubernatorial election on November 2, 2010, was only 57.7 percent.

According to a 2010 League of Women Voters study, “no-excuse” absentee ballots would:

• Allow voters to cast their vote when they are able to.
• Allow voters to balance work, family and other interests including their civic duty to vote.
• Decrease barriers, such as time, distance and schedules, to voting.
• Eliminate problems with ballots being cast in the wrong precinct and reduce provisional ballots.
• Reduce lines on election days and eventually could reduce costs by reducing the number of precincts and precinct workers.

The Sayers-Baram legislation is in the form of a resolution that would begin the process of amending the state Constitution to eliminate the limited circumstances provided for voting by absentee ballot. The proposal is currently being considered by the Legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee with a public hearing expected later this month.

Under present law, registered voters seeking an absentee ballot must provide a valid reason why they cannot vote at their polling location on Election Day. Reasons such as illness, military deployment and travel are considered acceptable under existing law.

There are many other acceptable reasons, and this bill recognizes that by eliminating barriers that deter people from voting. Many factors such as age, physical infirmities, transportation, work schedules and weather conditions prevent people from going to the polling stations to vote. ‘No-excuse’ absentee ballots will provide ample opportunity for all residents to vote.

As a society we are all better served when more people go to the polls and we believe “no-excuse” absentee ballots will help do this. Currently, 30 states offer “no-excuse” absentee voting.

Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, the state’s chief election official, also supports the “no-excuse” absentee ballot concept as a way to increase election participation. Voter turnout for the statewide gubernatorial election on November 2, 2010, was only 57.7 percent.

According to a 2010 League of Women Voters study, “no-excuse” absentee ballots would:

• Allow voters to cast their vote when they are able.
• Allow voters to balance work, family and other interests including their civic duty to vote.
• Decrease barriers, such as time, distance and schedules, to voting.
• Eliminate problems with ballots being cast in the wrong precinct and reduce provisional ballots.
• Reduce lines on election days and eventually could reduce costs by reducing the number of precincts and precinct workers.

Our legislation is in the form of a resolution that would begin the process of amending the state Constitution to eliminate the limited circumstances provided for voting by absentee ballot. The proposal is currently being considered by the Legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee with a public hearing expected later this month.

Another voting-related bill we have introduced was the idea of our Windsor Democratic Registrar of Voters Anita Mips. Unlike what happened in Bridgeport this past Election Day, she ensures that every Windsor voter will have a ballot to fill out when they arrive at the polls by using a formula to order ballots that adds 10 percent to the town’s highest past voter turnout.

Voting is the foundation of our democracy and we must keep that foundation strong.

HARTFORD — The formula used by Windsor election officials to decide how many ballots to order is the basis of a bill proposed by two area legislators, who hope it will strike a balance between preventing towns from ordering too few ballots and mandating they order one for each voter.

“This is a good compromise,” Rep. David A. Baram, D-Bloomfield, said Thursday. “It lowers potential cost and still provides for safety from voter turnout.” Baram, along with Rep. Peggy Sayers, D-Windsor Locks, introduced the bill.

It calls for each town to take its highest voter turnout, add 10 percent, and order at least that many ballots for any election.

They got the idea this fall from Anita Mips, Windsor’s Democratic registrar of voters. The story goes that Sayers and Baram — whose districts both include parts of Windsor — were at an event with Mips. She suggested the formula, and the lawmakers thought it sounded like a good idea.

The proposal is one of many from lawmakers this year to try to prevent another Election Day debacle similar to what happened in Bridgeport, when the city ordered 21,000 ballots for its 69,000 voters and ran out. Other towns, including Stafford and Windsor Locks, were short of ballots, but not to the same extent.

Sayers and Baram think theirs is the only proposal that doesn’t force towns to order one ballot for every voter. “It seems like a good compromise,” Sayers said.

Now, they’re looking for approval from Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill, the state’s chief election official. Merrill, who lives in Mansfield, has been critical of proposals that force towns to order one ballot for each voter, saying it would be wasteful and a burden for towns, which pay for the ballots.

“I’m not sure that … having every town order 100 percent ballots for every election is necessarily the right answer,” Merrill told a collection of municipal leaders last week.

Sayers has asked Merrill to take a look at her proposal, but hasn’t heard back yet, she said.

Mips thinks the formula is a good start for a state law. “It’s based on history — the number of ballots that we used,” she said Thursday. “It makes the most sense.”

Windsor Town Clerk Agnes Pier says the town’s method is slightly more complicated. She works with the registrars before each election to decide how many ballots to order.

Her method takes into account the type of election — whether it’s a primary, referendum, or presidential year. She also considers whether any races will draw more voters than usual to the polls.

Last year, for example, Pier calculated past elections had 60 percent turnout. She ordered 20 percent more ballots because of the high-profile U.S. Senate race and a competitive race for probate judge.

Voter turnout was around 60 percent, Pier said, but it spiked at some polling places, which would have run out if she hadn’t ordered extra ballots.

“It’s very important to be aware of the environment because then you need to pad it a little bit more,” Pier said. She said ballot-ordering should be in the hands of local officials and not mandated by the state.

Still, Sayers and Baram want to see if changing state law can help prevent ballot shortages.

“It’s really a very fine line between making sure we have adequate ballots,” Sayers said, “and that we don’t run out of ballots.”

How fortunate it is that Windsor has not just one but three state representatives advocating for Windsor’s best interests. Having three legislators working diligently for Windsor ensures that it will not be lost in the shuffle when large municipalities with sizeable delegations such as Hartford’s vie for precious state dollars for education and town programs and projects.

Working closely together, we have introduced several bills that would directly benefit Windsor. In addition, we have bolstered our positions among the House leadership to help enable passage of our bills.

One bill very important for Windsor calls for increasing the tax on lodging by 3 percent. Under our bill, Windsor and other municipalities where lodging is located would receive one percent of the increase. The remaining two-thirds of the new revenue would be divided so that half of the money is distributed to each municipality in the state and the other half distributed to each regional council of governments.

Another bill we have introduced would allow for a small portion of state sales tax money to be transferred back to Windsor and other towns and cities based on their populations. The amount would be one-half of one percent of the sales tax collected by the state and would be given back to each municipality in the state on a per capita basis.

These new revenues would really help Windsor at a time when the town desperately needs aid.

Yet another bill would reduce the Metropolitan District Commission’s exposure to liability for injuries on its land.

Last year we saw the possibility of Windsor residents being barred from enjoying the MDC’s Reservoir No. 6 in West Hartford, a terrific natural and recreational resource. An award in a lawsuit over a bicycle accident prompted MDC officials to review their policies for public access. Although no action was taken by the MDC, access to its reservoir and other facilities could be threatened by any future accidents.

The new bill would raise the threshold for suing municipalities and government agencies such as the MDC, by forcing plaintiffs to prove “gross negligence.” The bill also could reduce the cost of liability insurance for cities and towns.

Another bill we have introduced to help charities and religious groups in town would permit nonprofit organizations to offer a complimentary coupon book as an incentive for purchasing raffle tickets.

Helping Windsor and its residents in these difficult times is our pre-eminent goal and we believe that together we can serve everyone.

With Windsor having three state representatives who care deeply about the community we hope that the best interests of the town will be furthered in the best way possible.

The Deputy Majority Leader is responsible for assisting the Majority Leader with the development of policy, reviewing critical legislation, and developing the majority party’s agenda.

“This is certainly an important assignment and one for which I am honored to have been selected,” Sayers said.  “We are facing substantial challenges, but I am confident that we can work together in a bipartisan fashion to develop policies beneficial to all the people of Connecticut.”

The appointment was made by incoming House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden). 

“I am very pleased that Rep. Sayers has accepted this leadership role as we move our agenda forward,” Sharkey said. “Peggy will serve our caucus well in these responsibilities and bring a strong work ethic to the table.”

In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Sayers will serve as a member of the Appropriations, Higher Education and Transportation committees.

With the economy still trying to recover and the state budget deficit estimated at $3.5 billion for the 2012 fiscal year, job creation and balancing the budget is clearly the top priority for both the governor and legislature.
And though much of the five-month session will rightly focus on economic and fiscal matters, we wanted to let you know of some other issues that may not be on everyone's radar, but are likely to also be debated this year.

As the mortgage home foreclosure crisis continues to take its toll on many residents, the Banks Committee will likely look at expanding and improving the state's highly successful mortgage mediation program administered by the judicial branch. Since its inception in 2008, the program has helped over 4,400 families facing foreclosure to stay in their homes.      

In response to a forum held a few months ago by the Connecticut Commission on Children on the subject of bullying and cyber-bullying, the Children's Committee will likely propose legislation to teach educators and parents about the problem, and establish clear policies to prevent and better identify bullying in schools.

It is expected that the Committee on Aging will pursue legislation that protects seniors from fraud and abuse. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to unscrupulous business practices, especially in the health care and financial services industries and it is important to continually update our consumer protection laws to reduce the incidence of such abuses.

With a growing number of companies offering a lower price alternative to receiving your electricity from CL&P, the Energy Committee may look at standardizing consumer protections for such solicitations. This could include what must be disclosed in any offers as well as how marketing practices, including door-to-door sales are conducted.

Another consumer-related issue that may emerge is retail restocking fees. The legislature's General Law Committee could look to ban retailers from charging customers restocking, handling or processing fees for returned goods.

With the state in need of more revenue, and Connecticut being one of only three states that ban Sunday alcohol sales, we expect this issue to receive a lot of attention. Those in favor of lifting the ban say Connecticut residents who want to purchase alcohol on Sunday are currently doing so in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, thus denying much needed tax revenue for our state. Opponents believe weekly alcohol purchases are simply now spread over six days, and there would not be any significant increase in total volume sales.

Adding the popular lottery-type game Keno through video terminals in places such as bars and bowling alleys, is also seen by some as a potential big revenue raiser for the state. Surrounding states New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island along with nine others offer Keno as does Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos.

In order to increase voter turnout, the Elections Committee will look at allowing people to register to vote right up to and including Election Day. Same day registration is currently available in 10 states, and studies show increased voter turnout of 6-10%. Concern over potential voter fraud is the main argument by opponents.

There will also likely be a number of high profile controversial issues debated such as the state's death penalty law and allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

As we mentioned up top, the economy and state budget will dominate much of the discussion in the 2011 legislature, but it is important to recognize that many other issues that may directly impact your lives will also come up for consideration. Stay tuned.