Capitol News from State Senator Paul Doyle

September 2009 Issue

Capitol address
Legislative Office Building
Room 2000
Hartford, CT 06106-1595

On the Web
www.SenatorDoyle.cga.ct.gov

Phone
Capitol: 860-240-0498
Toll-free: 1-800-842-1420

Dear Friends,

Here’s the fourth edition of my e-newsletter, a cost-efficient, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly way for me to help keep you informed about what’s happening at the Capitol. Thank you for your interest and please let me know of any other people that would like to be added to my e-mail list.

New Probate Court Efficiencies Moving Ahead

The Probate Court Redistricting Commission has been meeting regularly and working toward the boundaries that will define the new, more efficient, regional probate court districts. A new law was enacted earlier this year requiring the consolidation of probate courts as a cost-cutting measure; by all estimates the current system will have exhausted its financial resources by this time next year.

I served with other legislators and officials of the Rell administration on the committee that drafted the bill that contained the compromise consolidation language. last will and testament One key feature of the bill is merging the 117 existing probate courts into about 50 regional courts. A preliminary map outlining new districts was crafted in early July.

I will advocate and work hard so that the residents of the Ninth District will be served effectively by this consolidation effort.

I will provide updates on this matter as they come into sharper focus. The proposal will likely be altered somewhat before it is presented in its final form for legislative approval sometime this fall in a special session.

Ready or Not: The 2009/2010 School Year Begins

We knew all along the summer would end, rain or shine. What we didn’t know is by what margin the rainy days would outweigh the sunny ones. Nevertheless, more than 550,000 public school students have returned to the classroom in recent weeks, signaling the end of summer. This year there are approximately 41,000 children entering kindergarten statewide and this figure is almost exactly the same number of seniors who graduated last spring.

school bus The most practical implication of this new school year is an earlier start to each day as students, parents, teachers, and staff crowd the streets in the morning — in a hurry to beat the bell. It also means a later end to each day, when after-school sports and other activities kick off.

I urge each of you to use extra caution traveling about while we readjust to the school-year schedule. Watch for students crossing streets while walking to school and watch for school buses and their frequent stops.

Take Steps to Avoid Infection by H1N1 Virus

School administrators are particularly sensitive to the ongoing threat posed by the H1N1 virus, as all of us ought to be. Health experts nationwide have issued warnings about a potential uptick in cases of influenza caused by the virus which should not cause alarm but simply prompt precautions.

kids washing hands Prevention will be the best antidote for a Connecticut outbreak: statewide prevention efforts begin with each of us and our willingness to wash our hands, treat symptoms early and thoroughly, and isolate ourselves and our family members should one of us become ill. A few days off is a small price to pay compared to a serious case of the flu, and there is no question that your children’s classmates and teachers, your co-workers, and every employer would agree.

As of now, there is no definitive word on the schedule for widespread availability of flu shots to help immunize residents against the H1N1 virus. I will join the state Department of Public Health in an effort to notify residents of those details as they become available.