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Posted on October 1, 2018 by admin
A number of new laws passed during the 2018 Legislative Session take effect today, October 1st. These laws may have an impact on you, your business, or our community. To see a full list, please click here.
I am pleased to have supported the following Public Acts in becoming law:
Veterans
Public Act 18-47 expands eligibility for certain veterans benefits to certain individuals who have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or who have had an experience of military sexual trauma.
Public Act 18-102 eliminates qualifying income limits for veterans in order to improve eligibility for certain municipal option tax exemptions.
Business
Public Act 18-79 exempts from the property tax a business’s tangible personal property that is more than 10 years old and had an original value of not more than $250.
Public Safety
Public Act 18-90 prevents credit agencies from charging fees for security freezes and doubles (from one year to two) the amount of time businesses have to provide free credit monitoring if an account is hacked.
Public Act 18-135 criminalizes the act of masking the identity of a caller initiating robo calls.
Public Health
Special Act 18-15 provides consumers with access to information regarding the safety of sports helmets on the State Department of Education’s website.
Public Act 18-4 establishes various requirements regarding the treatment of women – specifically pregnant inmates. In general, it requires the Department of Correction (DOC) to establish support services, such as a lactation policy, for incarcerated women, provide inmates with feminine hygiene products free of cost (upon request), reinstate its training program on mental health issues for custodial staff and use a gender-responsive approach to risk assessment.
Public Act 18-149 protects patients from unexpected costs and fees at outpatient clinics, urgent care centers and freestanding emergency departments.
Energy & Environment
Public Act 18-7 enables the transfer of funds from the Passport to the Parks account and requires special event fees at state parks to be based on the number of attendees and cover state costs related to such events.
Public Act 18-73 provides for the offering of proof that farm products that are sold to school districts as “Connecticut-grown” are actually grown in the state.
Public Act 18-101 raises awareness and provides funding for efforts to fight aquatic invasive species and cyanobacteria blooms that threaten the state’s lakes and ponds by establishing a “Save Our Lakes” license plate.
Posted on September 17, 2018 by admin
For the second year, the UConn Department of Women and Philanthropy is hosting a free program for the public called Successful Women Making a Difference. This event consists of a panel discussion and networking opportunities with strong and successful women in the region who will share their stories, contributions, and ideas about success.
Fran Pastore, CEO of the Women’s Development Council, will serve as the keynote speaker while Susette Tibus, Owner of Simply Majestic Jewelry in Mystic, will be the moderator. Panelists include:
Please RSVP by September 21st here. If you require an accommodation to participate or have any dietary needs, please specify this in your RSVP. For questions, please contact Marcy Jarzabek via email or at (860) 486-3905.
Posted on September 7, 2018 by admin
Starting Sunday, September 9th, organizations from around the country will be coming together to spread awareness of the risks and signs of suicide, as well as how we can #stopsuicide.
National Suicide Prevention Week takes place between September 9th and September 15th, with World Suicide Prevention Day also falling on Monday, September 10th.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention considers one of the biggest risks for suicide to be social isolation, and there’s scientific evidence for reducing suicide risk by making sure we connect with one another. We can all play a role through the power of connection by having real conversations about mental health with people in everyday moments – whether it’s with those closest to us, or the coffee barista, parking lot attendant, or the grocery store clerk. We don’t always know who is struggling, but we do know that one conversation could save a life.
Please know than an “Out of the Darkness” Community Walk to fight suicide will be taking place from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at McCook’s Park in Niantic on Saturday, September 15th. For more information, please click here or contact Michelle Peters at 860-614-72018 or mpeters@afsp.org. Online registration closes at noon on Friday, September 14th. You may also register in person at the walk starting at 11:00 a.m. Registration is free and open to the public. 
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is always open for confidential support. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Other organizations that are participating in National Suicide Prevention Week includes 1 Word 1 Voice 1 Life, United Way, Connecticut Clearinghouse, the Department of Mental Health & Addication Services, and the American Association of Suicidology.
Posted on September 4, 2018 by admin
HARTFORD — State Representative Mike France (R-42) invites his constituents to join him for a town-hall style meeting at the Preston Public Library on September 20th for a Legislative Update. On September 22nd, he will be holding a second Legislative Update at the Ledyard Town Hall Annex. Rep. France will be discussing what’s happening up in Hartford and new laws enacted this summer that may affect our communities.
WHEN: Thursday, September 20th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Preston Public Library, 389 Route 2
WHEN: Saturday, September 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Ledyard Town Hall Annex, 741 Colonel Ledyard Highway
These events are free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend but would still like to connect with Rep. France, please do not hesitate to contact him at Mike.France@housegop.ct.gov or (800) 842-1423. If either meeting needs to be cancelled or postponed, a notice will be posted on Rep. France’s website at www.RepFrance.com and his Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/RepFrance.
Posted on September 4, 2018 by admin
The Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL) is hosting their annual “Stand Down” event for veterans on September 21, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs main campus located at 287 West Street in Rocky Hill.
This is a wonderful opportunity for the veterans in our community to receive free employment and job training guidance. More than 30 government agencies and social services organizations will be offering education and recovery based services, as well as information about state and Veterans’ Administration benefits, and legal, motor vehicle and housing matters.
Medical, dental, eye care, hearing and mental health screenings – as well as free clothing – will also be provided. Pre-registration is not required, but the DOL asks that attendees arrive no later than 12:00 p.m. and encourage that you bring documentation verifying your military service/veteran status.
If you are in need of transportation to the event, please know that the Department of Transportation is providing free bus services from a number of locations around the state. Handicap-accessible buses will be leaving from the Covenant Shelter at 42 Jay Street in New London, and The Buckingham House at 307 Main Street in Norwich, at 7:00 a.m.
For more information, please call 860-616-3803. Click here for a state-wide transportation schedule.
Please share this information with those who may benefit!