Kara Rochelle

I hope this message finds you and yours well. 

Thank you to everyone who attended my Office Hours with Senator Jorge Cabrera on Monday. If you missed the event, we will be holding another Office Hours and Listening Session on Friday, April 22 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Valley Diner. 

This is an opportunity to ask questions, share your thoughts, and provide feedback on state issues. We will also provide an update on the 2022 legislative session. 

We hope to see you there! 

If you would like more information or cannot attend this event, but would still like to talk about the Derby delegation's work this session, please feel free to email me at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov.

During Tuesday's session, as Vice Chair of the Commerce Committee, I was proud to lead the floor debate on HB 5267, which would support our state's tourism, arts, and culture industries by ensuring the state Department of Economic and Community Development includes these industries in its strategic state-wide marketing plan. 

Our arts and tourism sector was dramatically impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Connecticut has so many phenomenal arts and culture venues and organizations, and this bill will help this valuable industry thrive and generate jobs in communities across the state. 

The House passed this bill unanimously. It now goes to the Senate. 

This bill would remove the financial barriers to surveillance and diagnostics for these types of cancers and improve health outcomes for women. Early detection saves lives.

Ovarian cancer often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed until it's too late. 80% of ovarian cases are not found until late stages, which is why it's the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers. It is vital that those who are most at risk for ovarian cancer have access to the limited surveillance and diagnostic tools that are available. Ensuring these lifesaving tools are covered by health insurance will improve early detection so that fewer women and their families experience the devastating loss that this cancer often causes. We can and must do better, and I'm proud to lead this fight.

To all survivors who have experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. We see you, we hear you and we support you. It is among my great priorities as a legislator to advocate for victims and survivors.

Last year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a bill which focused specifically on protecting sexual assault victims on college campuses. HB 6374 requires Connecticut colleges to conduct a sexual assault misconduct survey every two years and established a Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments to aide higher education institutions in collecting this information.

This year, we are advocating for the passage of HB 5472, An Act Concerning Sexual Assault, and the Absence of Consent. This bill updates statutory language to defines "consent" for purposes of sexual assault statutes and clarifies that sexual intercourse without consent is a crime. HB 5472 was voted out of the Judiciary Committee and sent to the floor for debate and consideration.

The Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence launched their annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign. This year’s theme is healing through community. Visit endsexualviolencect.org to find out how you can get involved in build survivor communities that provide solace, connection, and prevent further violence.

If you or someone you love needs support, call or text their 24-hour hotline: 1-888-999-5545 for English,1-888-565-8332 para Español.

I hope you will join me this month to honor the resiliency of survivors as we work toward building safer communities.

Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and concerns you may have on Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267. Follow my Facebook page for regular legislative updates.

All my Best,

Kara Rochelle
State Representative