Posted on May 27, 2021
It has been a very busy few weeks at the State Capitol as we head toward the June 9th conclusion of regular session. There have been many bills that have come before us and I wanted to update you on some of the most concerning that we have had to vote on. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact my office.
S.B. No. 996- AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDRAISING BY THE FOUNDATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT. What this bill does is allow The University of Connecticut to collect the amount of cash compensation (as promised) from the foundation fundraising, if the Foundation meets the fundraising goals for the year. I voted NO because there is/was a standing agreement in place prior to this legislation and the passage of this bill negates that agreement.
S.B. No. 6107- AN ACT CONCERNING THE REORGANIZATION OF THE ZONING ENABLING ACT AND THE PROMOTION OF MUNICIPAL COMPLIANCE. This is one of the big ones that has been talked about over the last several months. The work that so many of you have done writing to your legislators, holding zoning rallies, voting on local zoning resolutions and through the hard work of Republicans here in Hartford fighting to stop it; some parts of this bill were removed. However, this is still an incredibly bad bill and again, I was a NO. What this bill does is opens-up to Connecticut towns to MORE mandates and as you will see later in this post and in the coming days at the Capitol, I am firmly against them. This is yet another classic example of government overreach into our families and communities during this session.
S.B. No. 835- AN ACT CONCERNING DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING PRACTICES OF LIMITED SERVICES PREGNANCY CENTERS. This bill aims to prohibit “deceptive advertising” by limited services pregnancy centers which are often faith-based centers. These centers offer these free services to their local communities through generous donors while not receiving any tax money. These centers do not directly provide services for emergency contraception or abortions and do not advertise service’s they do not do. To date there have been no complaints filed against these centers. The proponent of the bill failed to define “deceptive advertising”. How can you make the claim there is/was deceptive advertising when you can’t even define it? This was clearly an attack against a religious organization that takes NO tax dollars and helps hundreds if not thousands of women and children in need.
H.B. No. 6417- AN ACT REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF YOUTH CAMPS AND YOUTH SPORTS COACHES, TRAINERS AND INSTRUCTORS. What this bill does is mandates youth camps and youth sports organizations to obtain background checks. Most organizations already voluntarily do this. According to the CDC, there is no data suggestions that these background checks are an effective safeguard against child predators. As stated on the House floor while debate, previous arrested of sexual offense records can be found at no cost on the:
National Sex Offender Registry
CT Sex Offender Registry
DCF Child Abuse Neglect Registry
H.B. No. 6451- AN ACT CONCERNING GAMING AGREEMENTS WITH THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBE AND THE MOHEGAN TRIBE OF INDIANS OF CONNECTICUT. This bill gives exclusive rights to both the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casinos. Although I am well aware of the employments and entertainment opportunities these casinos bring to Connecticut, I feel this particular bill isn’t in the best interest of Connecticut. Giving exclusive rights to online gaming to just these two entities not only limits but prevents any future opportunities for new businesses or organizations the ability to compete which I feel is unconstitutional. If future businesses were able to compete for the rights to online gaming, we could have benefitted for increased economic growth and I think we should always be looking at what is in the best interest of Connecticut for the long term.