Vail’s Atlantic Standard Time Provision Moves Forward
HARTFORD – State Representative Kurt Vail (R-Stafford) praised the action of the Government Administration and Election Committee in passing his proposed provision to adopt Atlantic Standard Time, keeping Connecticut in one static time zone, year-round. The committee passed the legislation in bi-partisan fashion, with a final vote tally of 13-2.
“When I first proposed this concept a couple of years ago, nobody in the building took it seriously. I think that the recent action of the GAE Committee shows how much work and advocacy has gone into helping us remove this archaic practice from our society. Studies have shown that in the week following a time change there are more motor vehicle accidents, increased heart attacks, and seasonal affective disorder is propelled. Democrat, Republican, this isn’t a partisan issue, and the bi-annual time change negatively affects all of us,” explained Rep. Vail.
Rep. Vail has facilitated great discussion among his fellow legislators to support the concept and has brought in experts to provide facts on the issue. This is also a rare instance that a significant policy change would have zero fiscal impact on the state.
The bill calls for Connecticut’s neighboring states of Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island, to adopt similar provisions in order for the time change to go into effect.
“The bill doesn’t automatically set Connecticut apart from our neighboring New England states, and New York. If we are going to do this, it has to be a regional effort. The trigger mechanism to make this work is for our neighboring states to get on board and end the practice of changing our clocks twice a year,” stated Rep. Vail.
The bill will now head to the House of Representatives, where it will be considered further. Rep. Vail is hopeful that it will be called for a vote so that he can shepherd it through the entire legislative process.
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