Case’s public accountability proposal passes House

HARTFORD – Lawmakers today passed a proposal introduced by state Rep. Jay Case (R-63) aimed at cracking down on public officials found guilty of defrauding taxpayers, prohibiting an accelerated rehabilitation program for anyone found guilty of stealing more than $2,000 of public money.

The proposal, part of a larger bill, swept through the House of Representatives by a 148-0 vote, signaling a strong stance against public officials who attempt to take advantage of taxpayer dollars.

Accelerated rehabilitation (AR) is a “second chance” program available in lieu of criminal punishment. Under Case’s proposal, AR won’t be available to anyone charged with larceny related to public trust.

“When you’re a public official,” Case said, “Accountability is key. Today’s vote shows that we care about keeping both elected and employed public officials accountable with our money. After seeing what can happen to a community when someone takes advantage of their money, I can honestly say that the crime is certainly worth this punishment.”

Case introduced the concept in February after a local official was found guilty of stealing $2 million from the taxpayers, sending the town’s finances awry. The local corruption case has since closed, and this step aims to prevent similar violations from occurring.

State Rep. Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70), the Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee, helped Case push through the legislation and thanked him for bringing the issue to the forefront. Rebimbas, an attorney, saw the proposal as an opportunity to strengthen the law in favor of taxpayers.

“This proposal was widely supported by lawmakers and I’m thankful Rep. Case brought it to our attention,” Rebimbas said. “We want to make sure that public officials serving the community are held accountable for any type of mismanagement and theft of taxpayer funds. These people – whether municipal or state employees – have the trust of the community and it’s devastating when they take advantage of the trust given to them because it burdens the community. This proposal will change that.”