Month: May 2018

Statement of Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff on U.S. Senate Vote Today in Support of Net Neutrality

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Statement of Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff on U.S. Senate Vote Today in Support of Net Neutrality

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) this afternoon issued the following statement in response the U.S. Senate’s vote to kill the Trump administration’s dangerous rollback of Obama-era FCC net neutrality principles.

Sen. Duff was one of the main proponents of maintaining net neutrality in Connecticut; his net neutrality bill passed the Connecticut State Senate on a party-line 18-18 vote, with Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman casting the tiebreaking vote.

“It’s great to see the United States Senate vote today to overturn this anti-business, anti-consumer policy of the Trump administration. I’m particularly pleased that three Republicans joined with their Democratic counterparts in the U.S. Senate to overturn this unfair internet practice. Today’s display of bipartisanship in Washington, D.C. only makes me wonder once again why Republican state senators in Connecticut couldn’t see their way to protecting small businesses, consumers, students and others in our state by guaranteeing an open, fair, and affordable internet. My hope now is that our congressmen and women in the U.S. House of Representatives will do the right thing and vote to reinstate net neutrality across America once and for all,” Sen. Duff said.

Sen. Gerratana E-news: Bipartisan Budget: Funding for Seniors, Education, Towns and Transportation

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Sen. Flexer and Rep. Boyd Lead Passage of BOE Elections Bill, a Win for Brooklyn Voters

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Sen. Flexer and Rep. Boyd Lead Passage of BOE Elections Bill, a Win for Brooklyn Voters

HARTFORD—Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) and Representative Patrick Boyd (D-Brooklyn) led passage of a bill that will restore competition and voter choice in the Town of Brooklyn’s board of education elections. Senate Bill 413 places Brooklyn in compliance with other statutory towns regarding its Board of Education.

Brooklyn currently selects its board of education based on a special act from 1929 that is now dated and open to challenge. The bill corrects this deficiency and ensures that the election, number and terms of the members of the Brooklyn Board comply with Connecticut General Statutes.The bill also allows for the first selectman to continue serving in that office for a period of time after the election. Currently, the keys of town hall literally have to be turned over when a new person is elected.

After town officials on both sides of the aisle reached out to their Brooklyn state legislators asking for the state to change the outdated law, Sen. Flexer and Rep. Boyd led passage of Senate Bill 413 in the state Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

“I was happy to fight for voters in Brooklyn and lead passage of this sensible legislation that will allow for competition in the elections of the town’s board of education and restore choice for voters,” Sen. Flexer said. “I am grateful for the advocacy of First Selectman Rick Ives and former First Selectman Austin Tanner to make this change and ensure Brooklyn elections give voters a choice just like other towns.”

“Over the last decade both Democratic and Republican first selectmen in Brooklyn have asked for this commonsense change of the state statutes. I am proud to have led its passage through the House of Representatives and pleased this issue is finally settled,” Rep. Boyd said

The bill passed the Senate unanimously on May 2 and passed the House142- 7 on May 9. It now must be signed by the governor to become law.

Senator Duff E-News: Bipartisan Budget: Funding for Seniors, Education, Towns & Transportation

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Sen. Fonfara E-news: Bipartisan Budget: Funding for Seniors, Education, Towns & Transportation

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Sen. Moore E-News: Bipartisan Budget: Funding for Seniors, Education, Towns & Transportation

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Senator Bye E-News: Bipartisan Budget: Funding for Seniors, Education, Towns & Transportation

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Senate Majority Leader Duff Hails School Construction Bill as a Win for Norwalk Students and Educators

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Senate Majority Leader Duff Hails School Construction Bill as a Win for Norwalk Students and Educators

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today hailed the recent passage by the General Assembly of a bill funding school construction as a win for Norwalk students and educators. Senator Duff played a key role in ushering the legislation through the Connecticut State Senate.

Senate Bill 184, An Act Concerning Authorization of State Grant Commitments for School Construction Projects, includes critical state funding for several urgent Norwalk school construction projects. The legislation appropriates funding to undertake the immediate remediation of PCBs found in the wood paneling and doors at Norwalk High School.

“As more and more people are choosing Norwalk as a place to live and raise a family, it is important that we ensure we have the space necessary for our students and educators as well as safe, modern facilities that enhance the educational experience,” said Senator Duff. “I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their support of this legislation, Rep. Lavielle and Rep. Perone for their work on the bill and shepherding it through the House, and our local officials for all the extensive planning that goes into making these projects a reality.”

“This funding will help Norwalk Public Schools construct, upgrade and repair schools across the district,” said Mayor Harry Rilling. “I want to thank Senator Duff and the other members of the Norwalk delegation who worked diligently to ensure that the Board of Education has the resources it needs to undertake these important projects.”

“We’re grateful to Senator Duff and our entire legislative delegation for providing 100 percent funding for the Norwalk High remediation,” said Dr. Steven Adamowski, superintendent, Norwalk Public Schools. “Additional funds will allow us to fully implement Norwalk’s school building program, which is designed to build much-needed new schools and fix existing school buildings.”

The legislation appropriates more than $14.3 million for expansions at Ponus Ridge Middle School and an unspecified grant for a new South Norwalk school at the site of the former Nathaniel Ely School site to be authorized following the acquisition of land necessary to complete the project. Also included in the bill is funding for improvements at West Rocks Middle School.

McCrory Votes to Support More Minority Teacher Recruitment

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McCrory Votes to Support More Minority Teacher Recruitment

State Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford) this week voted in favor of a bill that will help diversify classroom staff across Connecticut by enhancing minority teacher recruitment and retention.

“Our public school student population in Connecticut is a little more than half white, about a quarter Hispanic, and about 15 percent Black,” Sen. McCrory said. “But as of about five years ago, our public school teaching staff was more than 90 percent white, about 3 percent Hispanic, and less than 3 percent Black.”

“All the research shows that students learn better with a diverse teaching population. Our teachers should reflect the diversity of our state. This isn’t just important for minority students; it’s important for all of us,” Sen. McCrory continued. “Teachers help shape the minds of our young people, and they have a lasting impact on every person they touch. When students of all races see teachers of color in front of the classroom it helps to challenge implicit biases and improve their educational experience.”

Senate Bill 455 requires the State Department of Education (SDE) to identify and use a number of programs to boost minority teacher recruitment, and it requires the State Board of Education to declare that Connecticut’s teacher workforce should reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of our state, which is approximately 68 percent white, 16 percent Hispanic, 12 percent Black and 5 percent Asian.

The bill requires the SDE to identify relevant research and successful practices to enhance minority teacher recruitment throughout Connecticut, to identify and establish public, private, and philanthropic partnerships to increase minority teacher recruitment, and to use new methods to attract minority candidates to the teaching profession, particularly in certain subject areas.

The bill also requires the SDE to amend its regulations relating to teacher certification, issue a provisional educator certificate to certain holders of charter school educator permits, issue an initial educator certificate to applicants who have passed a relevant examination or completed advanced coursework, and revise the membership of the minority teacher recruitment and retention task force.

The bill passed the House and Senate and now heads to the governor for his signature.

Senators Larson, Cassano, Gerratana Applaud Passage of Bill to Help Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations

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Senators Larson, Cassano, Gerratana Applaud Passage of Bill to Help Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations

photo of Senator Name.

Senator Larson speaks on the floor of the Senate.

Senator Tim Larson (D-East Hartford), Senator Steve Cassano (D-Manchester), and Senator Terry Gerratana (D-New Britain) applauded Senate passage (19-17) of a bill to help homeowners with crumbling concrete foundations, along with other home health and safety issues, such as lead contamination and sinking homes.

House Bill 5209 places a $12 surcharge on a homeowner’s insurance policy upon their issuance or renewal beginning in 2019, with all the funds to be placed in a newly created Healthy Homes Fund. The funds will pay for the remediation of homes with crumbling concrete foundations, lead abatement in homes, and remediation of homes in a specific area of New Haven that are sinking.

“Connecticut is the kind of place that when our neighbors are in a bind we all come together to help out. For years now, homeowners in northeastern Connecticut and New Haven have been struggling through this horrific ordeal,” Sen. Larson said. “This legislation provides a new source of revenue for the crumbling foundations assistance fund to help repair crumbling foundations and sinking homes in our state. I am proud to stand up for homeowners in my district by leading passage of this critical piece of legislation.”

“The public and governments got behind the victims of other natural disasters like Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy. But that’s exactly what’s going on with crumbling foundations. It’s happening in a different way, but the devastation is the same,” said Sen. Cassano. “People are losing their homes, their investments, their way of life. Today we took action to help reverse that.”

“Thousands of Connecticut residents are struggling with or will struggle with the severe effects of crumbling foundations,” said Sen. Gerratana. “This has been a huge problem for so long, and now is the time to do what’s right to help our citizens. This bill provides new revenue to help homeowners fix their homes, and I’m proud to vote today in support of the people of Connecticut’s right to a safe home.”

Eighty-five percent of the moneys in the Healthy Homes Fund will be transferred to the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund for crumbling foundations remediation. Those funds will be distributed through the nonprofit, private captive insurance company Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company, LLC, which is in the process of being licensed. The surcharge is expected to raise $10.2 million per year.

The bill passed the House on Saturday, May 5 with bipartisan support on a 97-42 vote.

The Senate today also passed House Bill 5321, a bill updating the real estate property disclosure form passed into law last year, which requires sellers to provide information on potential issues with a home to prospective buyers. HB 5321 further specifies the questions that must be included on the form and adds questions on concrete foundations.

The bill also requires any member of the board of directors for the non-profit captive insurance company that will distribute crumbling foundations remediation funds to recuse themselves if their own application or that of a family member comes before the board. Per statute, two of the board members must be homeowners affected by crumbling concrete foundations.

The bill clarifies that the captive insurance company is not considered a state agency and shall not be considered to be performing a governmental function. This measure would protect the identity of homeowners who submit applications for aid.