Bolinsky Opposes Bill to Shrink School “Drug Free” Zones

HARTFORD – State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (Newtown) opposed a measure considered by the Education Committee today that would shrink the perimeter of drug free zones at schools and day care centers while also limiting enforcement strictly to official hours.

School “Drug Free Zones” currently extend to 1,500 feet beyond the perimeter of the campus at all hours of every day but the current proposal in House Bill 6511 would limit the drug free area to only 200 feet and would differentiate  between regular school hours, after-hours school-sponsored activities, and non-school sponsored times of the day. Day care centers currently observe similar “Drug Free Zones” of 1,500 feet, extending to all hours of the day.  However, House Bill 6511 would similarly limit the zone to only 200 feet beyond the perimeter and only during day care center operating hours.

“Connecticut schools and pre-schools are sanctuaries of learning and development”, Rep. Bolinsky said.  “They are places of safety.  Repositories where our great state’s most valuable assets, our children, spend countless hours being enriched by participating in and impressionably observing everything from academics to socialization. Mutual respect. Right and wrong.  Expectations and accountability.  Community values. These are places that simply must be safe havens – before, during and after instructional hours. This bill is a move in the wrong direction!  The legislature’s own Office of Legislative Research (OLR) summarizes: “This bill reduces the scope of the laws that enhance the penalties for illegal drug activities near schools <and> day care centers.”

“I cannot support any measure that makes our children less safe!  This bill puts our children at risk and potentially exposes them to elements and behaviors that we, as parents, would not ourselves expose them to at home.”

He concluded by observing “Connecticut law has motorists observing School Zones 24/7/365 because school properties are presumed to be occupied by children at any time and on any given day.  Why on earth would we allow drug dealers or drug users to close in during non-academic hours?  The premise is just plain wrong for Connecticut.”