Joan Hartley

Senator Hartley, Representative Simmons Receive Legislative Partner Award From New Haven Chamber of Commerce

NEW HAVEN – State Senator Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) and State Representative Caroline Simmons (D-Stamford) were awarded the Legislative Partnership Award Thursday by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. As part of the Chamber’s 2019 Business Leadership Awards Luncheon, an event that annually recognizes local individuals and businesses for their exemplary leadership skills, the legislators received the award for their work in passing landmark legislation which will streamline the Property Transfer Act.

“I am grateful to the Chamber in awarding myself and Representative Simmons with this prestigious honor,” said Sen. Hartley. “We are dedicated to improving business and environmental prospects that can spur development in our communities. We recognize that achieving that goal requires significant collaboration between the regulated and business communities.”

Sen. Hartley and Rep. Simmons were recognized Thursday for their work and partnership in the Transfer Act Working Group. This group, which will meet through February 2020, is chaired by Sen. Hartley with the goal of clarifying the state’s Property Transfer Act, which has become outdated. The existing Transfer Act is intended to address environmental clean-up; however with changing technology and environmental processes, the act in many instances, results in a negative effect on economic growth. By modernizing the Transfer Act, legislators hope to spur significant business development and growth by removing complicated guidelines.