October 2, 2017

New Laws – Budget Update

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Dear Neighbors,

As of yesterday, October 1st, 140 new laws went into effect. The new laws cover a wide range of topics and may have an impact on your day-to-day life or business.

Below is a highlight of some of the new laws.

Animal Shelter Registration

I am proud to have championed this legislation that will require a person who wants to operate or maintain an animal shelter in Connecticut to register with the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) commissioner and comply with DoAg’s regulations on sanitation, disease, humane treatment of cats and dogs, and public safety protection. In addition, this law authorizes the commissioner, or his agent, to inspect an animal shelter at any time.

New Opioid Laws

We are taking steps to prevent and treat opioid abuse. Under this bill, it allows patients to ask that opioids not be prescribed to them and reduces the amount of opioid drugs a minor may be prescribed. It also requires practitioners, when prescribing opioids, to discuss with all patients, rather than only minors, the risks associated with opioid drug use. Click here to read more.

Small Business Hotline

This act requires the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) commissioner to establish and operate a hotline that provides individualized information and guidance to entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to start and develop a business, identify networking resources, and access technical and financial assistance from the state and quasi-public agencies.

Child Seat Law

All children under the age of 2 will be required to travel in a rear-facing car seat. This legislation also requires children to ride in booster seats until the age of 8.

Click here for a full list of the new laws.

In case you missed it, last week Governor Dan Malloy vetoed the bipartisan budget that passed both the House and the Senate last month. The governor’s executive order, which eliminates educational funding to 85 communities, will now move forward.

We will have a chance to override the governor’s decision during a veto session tomorrow and restore the bipartisan budget. I am urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to override the governor’s veto.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at Nicole.Klarides-Ditria@housegop.ct.gov.

Sincerely,

State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria

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