May 30, 2019

Zupkus Hails Passage of Safe School Climate Bill

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Works to Reduce School Bullying

HARTFORD- To better address bullying in schools across the state, State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) strongly supported a bi-partisan proposal that works to evaluate, improve and strengthen bullying laws.

The legislation, HB-7215, An Act Concerning Safe School Climate Policies includes establishes an eight-member Social and Emotional Learning and School Climate Advisory Collaborative tasked with, monitoring school climate improvement efforts in the state; additionally the bill modifies the definition of bullying by, among other things, eliminating the requirement that the action occur between students; and extends the bullying reporting requirements that apply to school employees to also apply to school volunteers.

The bill makes sure school districts are not handed another unfunded mandate but instead works to foster a voluntary and unpaid collaborative.

“Bullying of any kind, by children or by adults is unacceptable and needs to be discouraged. With the recent incidents of bullying locally we needed to make sure Connecticut was doing everything they could be to prevent this behavior and get at the root cause of bullying,” said Rep. Zupkus. “This is common sense legislation that establishes a social and emotional learning and school climate advisory collaborative that would work together to improve and foster positive school climates. Finding best-practices for schools and what strategies work and don’t work to curb bullying will only improve the overall school climate.”

The collaborative would collect information concerning the school climate improvement efforts of local and regional boards of education, identify best practices for promoting positive school climates, develop an assessment for screening students in grades three to twelve and perform other functions concerning social and emotional learning and fostering positive school climates.

The bill now heads to the State Senate for further debate and vote.

Read bill here:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2019/lcoamd/pdf/2019LCO09992-R00-AMD.pdf

Rep. Zupkus Honored with Champion of Open Government Award

HARTFORD – State Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-89th) has been recognized by the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information with its prestigious Champion of Open Government Award, presented during the Council’s annual awards ceremony held Tuesday evening at the Hartford Club. The award honors individuals who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to upholding Connecticut’s Freedom of […]

September 10, 2025

Rep. Zupkus to Hold Office Hours in Bethany

BETHANY – Residents are invited to in-district office hours with State Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Country Corner Restaurant (756 Amity Rd., Bethany). The office hours will run from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This event is an opportunity to meet for casual conversation and talk with Rep. Zupkus about any […]

September 3, 2025