January 27, 2021

State Representative Lanoue Sets His 2021 Priorities

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HARTFORD— State Representative Brian Lanoue (R-45) announced his comprehensive legislative proposals for the 2021 regular legislative session that began on January 6, 2021. With last year’s legislative session ending abruptly in March, he is expecting a very busy legislative session and is ready to address several issues facing Connecticut.

Among his proposed legislation for the current session is H.B.#5219, AN ACT REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF LICENSED YOUTH CAMPS. This bill would make it law to require employees who work at children’s camps to submit to comprehensive background checks. Rep. Lanoue has been a longtime advocate to pass this legislation that he originally proposed in 2019. He was successful in building strong, bi-partisan support to make this legislation law. Although the bill passed through the committee process, a vote was never taken on the House floor, with the challenges facing last year’s regular session, the bill was put on hold after the COVID-19 virus began affecting Connecticut in March.

“Sexually assaulting a child is an unforgivable crime. When I learned of a young boy who was molested at a Texas summer camp because there was no state requirement for mandatory background checks, I looked into Connecticut laws. I was disturbed to learn that no requirements exist, so I proposed H.B. #5165 in 2019. I am thrilled with the overwhelming, bi-partisan support this important initiative has received. It is vitally important this proposal becomes law so we know who is staying with our kids in these settings and require that a full and proper background check has been conducted,” Rep. Lanoue said.

In light of the challenges facing the state over the past several months, Rep. Lanoue is becoming increasingly concerned about first responders and farmers in his district. He has drafted and introduced, H.B. #5722 AN ACT EXEMPTING FROM THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX STIPENDS PAID TO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE MEMBERS. Rep. Lanoue strongly believes that this proposed bill, which is being co-introduced with 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. He has also re-introduced legislation which was originally proposed last year, H.B. #5440, AN ACT CONCERNING RABBIT PROCESSING FACILITIES. This would benefit farmers locally as they would have the ability to process rabbits on their farms in Connecticut.

“Over these past several months, COVID-19 and the response to it has placed a huge financial and psychological burden on all of us, our farmers and volunteer first responders have been hit especially hard. It is my hope these bills will encourage more recruitment and retention of our volunteer first responders in the 45th District, as well as encourage greater investment and growth in our agricultural sector by easing regulatory burdens on existing farmers and encourage more people to enter this invaluable industry. Our first responders and farmers are the back bone of our country and it is my hope that these legislative initiatives will help ease their burdens,” Rep. Lanoue said.

Rep. Lanoue has also co-introduced with the Conservative Caucus this session, a bill concept that he first introduced in 2019, to help defend gun owners and the Second Amendment by preventing municipalities from imposing more restrictive firearm regulations. His other proposals this session include regulatory reform, term limits, and electoral vote allocation based on congressional districts. Rep. Lanoue is also co-introducing legislation with State Senator Heather Somers (R-18), that includes priority funding requirements for combating aquatic invasive species in our lakes, ponds and rivers, setting up ATV trails on state property and reassessment of the PILOT funding criteria.

The 2021 regular legislative session adjourns at midnight on June 9th.