Zupkus Named Ranking Member of Public Safety Committee

HARTFORD — State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus has been selected to serve as the leading House Republican lawmaker on the legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee. Zupkus, re-elected to her second term last month, will also serve on the legislature’s committees on General Law and Human Services. Her new committee responsibilities begin at the start of the next legislative session on Jan. 7.

“Lezlye will make an excellent addition to these committees, and I know she will serve the House Republican caucus with distinction,” said state Rep. Themis Klarides, incoming House Republican Leader. “We all depend on our Ranking Members to be our biggest advocates, our watchdogs, when it comes to shaping important legislation.”

The Public Safety Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to homeland security, the Department of Public Safety, including state police, state organized task force on crime, municipal police training, fire marshals, the fire safety code and the state building code, civil preparedness and legalized gambling, and military and veterans’ affairs, except veterans’ pensions. In her new role as the committee’s Ranking Member, Zupkus will serve as the go-to lawmaker for House Republicans during the early to mid-session committee work that shapes legislation considered by the General Assembly’s full membership.

“I’m honored to receive this job from Representative Klarides and her leadership team, and I look forward to tackling issues that come before this panel as well as those related to my other committee assignments,” said Zupkus, who represents the 89th House District serving Bethany, Cheshire, and Prospect. “I can’t wait to get to work.”

Zupkus will again serve on the Human Services Committee, which has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Social Services and the Department of Children and Families, including institutions under their jurisdiction; the Office of Child Day Care; the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities; the Commission on the Deaf and the Hearing Impaired; and the Board of Education and Services for the Blind.

As a new member to the General Law Committee, Zupkus will work on issues related to the Department of Consumer Protection, fair trade and sales practices, consumer protection, mobile homes and occupational licensing, except licensing by the Department of Public Health; and all matters relating to alcoholic beverages.

During her first two-year term, Zupkus also served on the Commerce Committee.