House Republican’s CRISIS Initiative, Rep. Lanoue’s Volunteer Firefighter Tax Stipend Bills Receive Public Hearings

HARTFORD— During a virtual Press Conference yesterday, members of the House Republican Caucus announced that H.B. #5586 AN ACT REQUIRING EXPANSION OF THE CRISIS INITIATIVE PILOT PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE STATE, has received a Public Hearing by the joint Committee on Public Safety and Security on Thursday, February 11^th at 1:00 P.M.

At Tuesday’s press conference, Deputy-Minority Leader Jason Perillo (R-113), State Representative Brian Lanoue (R-45) and State Representative Robin Green (R-55), the Ranking Member on the Committee on Public Safety and Security, discussed the impacts opioid addiction is having on the state, and why expansion of the CRISIS Initiative is important.

“The House Republican Caucus is standing strongly behind this issue,” said Rep. Perillo. “This was a priority for us last year. Unfortunately, things went sideways with COVID, but here we are again, and it is still a priority, and is still something we are working towards. This epidemic has only become worse in recent years, and this marriage of law enforcement with substance abuse and mental health community members will make a tremendous difference in getting people the help they need.”

“We all know somebody whether it is a friend or relative, somebody within our community has been plagued by the opioid epidemic. We have all been impacted in some way. On top of this, COVID-19 has created even more isolation and job loss which has increased opioid abuse and mental health disorders,” said Rep. Lanoue. “But there is a beacon of hope that we can offer you, something that has been proven to be successful as a pilot program that I am very proud to say was launched in my hometown of Griswold.”

“As Ranking Member of the Public Safety Committee, I fully support H.B. 5586. In today’s society, we have to do everything we can to help people who suffer from addiction. Expanding this very successful program will ensure those who need help will actually get it,” Rep. Green said.

“The biggest benefit is the cultural change among law enforcement so now they are looking at a substance abuse or mental health disorder as a public health disorder and not a criminal disorder. That helps reduce the shame, the stigma of substance abuse and mental health disorders. You are really creating a different culture for these people to seek the treatment that they need,” said Miranda Mahoney, the Project Coordinator for Griswold Pride, a group that aims to unite the citizens of Griswold in a partnership to create and foster a safe, drug-free environment for the community.

In addition, a bill that Rep. Lanoue introduced this session, H.B. #5722 AN ACT EXEMPTING FROM THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX STIPENDS PAID TO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE MEMBERS will also be on the Public Hearing’s Agenda this Thursday. This bill has bi-partisan support, including the co-chairs of the legislative Fire and EMS Caucus, would help with recruiting and retaining volunteer Firefighters and EMS personnel with the hopes of giving people a little more incentive to serve their communities. “I was delighted to learn the public safety committee, is advancing this very important legislation to a public hearing. Our volunteer firefighters and ambulance members are vital to our communities in Connecticut, including the five towns in my district,” Rep. Lanoue said. “House Bill 5722, will hopefully be an incentive for volunteers to be recruited and remain in service. The return on investment on these wonderful men and women will be enormous for our state. COVID-19 has shown all of us how appreciative and needed our volunteer first responders are. I want to thank the Public Safety Committee for advancing this bill and recognize the legislators from both sides of the isle that co-introduced this bill with me. Tomorrow is going to be a very pivotal day for our first responders with these two key pieces of legislation moving forward.”

The Public Safety and Security Committee’s Public Hearing on Thursday will be on Zoom and YouTube Live at 1:00 P.M.

To view the Press Conference in its entirety, click here.