I wish to offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Anjelita Estrada. I am saddened at the news that such a precious life was lost way too soon.  

The death of a young student affects the entire Cheshire and Doolittle School community, and I know that all of us send our most heartfelt expressions of sympathy to the entire Estrada family. 

May we find ways to keep our memories of Anjelita alive forever. Losses like this one remind us about how precious, and sometimes fleeting, life can be. They also remind us of the importance of reaching out to one another to offer strength and support and to seek help when needed. 

As a mother of an eleven year old daughter, this sudden, heartbreaking tragedy hits home for me and my family. 

According to reports, the State Child Fatality Review panel will review Anjelita’s death. The panel is part of the state Office of the Child Advocate and normally examines untimely and unexplained juvenile deaths.  

I stand ready to work with Cheshire school officials, educators, parents and other state officials to make sure every student feels safe with the school culture and climate.

I encourage anyone who is seeking services for themselves or someone else to please call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. For those who are worried a loved one is considering suicide can also get advice at www.preventsuicidect.org. 

Locally, services are available at Rushford Center, the Community Health Center and MidState Medical Center for emergencies.

HARTFORD- State Senator Rob Sampson (R-16) State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) will be hosting a legislative coffee hour at the Dairy Bar in Prospect.

The Coffee Hour will be at the Dairy Bar on 29 Waterbury Road in Prospect on February 7th from 9:00am-10:00am.

Both Sen. Sampson and Rep. Zupkus want to hear from their constituents and encourage them to talk about any issues, questions or concerns related to state government.

The 2019 Legislative Session began on January 9^th.

For anyone who is unable to attend but would like to talk to their state representatives you can contact them at 1.800.842.1423 or send an email to Lezlye.Zupkus@housegop.ct.gov and Rob.Sampson@cga.ct.gov.

I hope you had a safe and Happy Holiday Season and ready to take on the New Year. I, for one, am excited to get to work in my new term as State Representative representing Bethany, Cheshire and Prospect. I am deeply humbled and honored to have the opportunity to continue representing the great people of the 89^th Assembly District. Thank you.

I, along with the 2019-2020 General Assembly, was sworn into office on January 9th in what was the Opening Day of the legislative session. We also have Governor Ned Lamont taking office on January 9^th. He is coming into office with an extensive legislative agenda, from writing a new two year budget to tolls, legalization of marijuana and the expansion of gaming in Connecticut.

It’s now time for the real work to begin. However, for our state to fully recover and to make sure we don’t fall back into bad budget habits we must tighten our belts and bring common sense back to government.

With my new role as a member of the Appropriations committee, I will be tasked with helping craft the new state budget proposal for Connecticut.

Right now, budget numbers are showing that the state will face a $1.7 billion budget deficit starting July 1st, and the number increases to $2.3 billion by the 2020-21 fiscal year. Fixing our budget problems should be our top priority. A well-crafted, balanced budget will tell you and the business community that Connecticut is serious about its’ fiscal house. We will need to make tough decisions and getting Connecticut out of the red starts with reforming state government, cutting unnecessary spending and borrowing, and creating policies that attract and keep job creators here in Connecticut.

I look forward to keeping you informed and sharing important information as we move through the legislative session. It is important to me that I represent my constituents to the best of my ability. I appreciate your help and input. Your input is very important because it informs me on the views of the people I represent.

Now that legislative session has begun, I plan on have office hours in Bethany, Cheshire and Prospect and will keep you up-to-date on the dates. Please join me and we can discuss the important issues of the state and any suggestions on your mind.

Please visit my website www.repzupkus.com for current legislative information as it happens; you can also sign up to receive my newsletter. You can also follow me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/repzupkus. I encourage you to sign up for my e-newsletter so you can get updates and alerts emailed directly to your inbox. If you have any questions, concerns or ideas please feel free to contact me by phone 1- (800) 842-1423 or email Lezlye.Zupkus@housegop.ct.gov.

Wishing you health and happiness in 2019.

New legislation effective dates are typically January 1st, July 1st, and October 1st throughout the calendar year. As 2018 comes to an end, we prepare for a number of new laws to take effect starting January 1, 2019.

These new laws may have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I have highlighted some noteworthy new laws below and encourage you to take a look at the full list, which can be accessed by clicking here. Please contact me with any questions or clarifications regarding the implementation of these new laws.

AN ACT CONCERNING DUAL ARRESTS AND THE TRAINING REQUIRED OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WITH RESPECT TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

This new law, PA 18-5, will reduce the number of dual arrests that occur in domestic violence cases and enhance domestic violence training offered to state and local law enforcement agencies. For a summary, click here.

AN ACT CONCERNING MAMMOGRAMS, BREAST ULTRASOUNDS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF BREASTS

This new law, PA 18-159, redefines mammogram, and eliminates copayments and deductibles for certain breast ultrasounds. For a summary, click here.

AN ACT CONCERNING CHANGES TO PHARMACY AND DRUG CONTROL STATUTES

This new law PA 18-16 provides the Department of Consumer Protection Drug Control Division with additional tools to be able to better address the prescription opioid epidemic. For a summary click here.

Please pass this information along to those who may benefit from knowing what to expect in the New Year in the State of Connecticut.

HARTFORD – State Representative Lezlye Zupkus will join three other House Republican colleagues as a Deputy Leader at Large under the leadership of House Republican Leader Themis Klarides starting on January 9th when the 2019 Legislative Session will begin. A Deputy Leader at Large is one of the highest leadership positions in the House Republican Caucus.

“I am honored to receive this promotion from House Republican Leader Themis Klarides,” said Rep. Zupkus. “I have served on a number of committees and in different leadership roles and will use my experience to help move our caucus strategy forward.”

In addition, Rep. Zupkus will serve on the Appropriations, Environment and Internship Committees.

“We need to stay focused on fixing our economy,” added Rep. Zupkus. “The only way we start attracting employers and residents is by stabilizing and creating a predictable economy.”

Rep. Zupkus can be reached at 860-240-8700 or by email Lezlye.Zupkus@housegop.ct.gov.

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HARTFORD – State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus said the majority party not overturning Governor Dan Malloy’s vetoes to bipartisan legislation shows that they would rather put their party over the people of Connecticut.

Since the end of the legislative session in May, Governor Malloy vetoed seven bills that received overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans.

Rep. Zupkus said, “Republicans were prepared to override vetoes on important bills to protect education funding and create more manufacturing jobs. It is a shame to see the majority party resort to election-year politics, focusing on national related topics instead of taking action on important legislation right here in our state. We had a chance to continue our bipartisan efforts from the session and stand up to Governor Dan Malloy but it seems the majority party is only concerned about November.”

Here is the full list of bills the majority party failed to override:

PA 18-35 An Act Prohibiting the Executive Branch From Making Rescissions Or Other Reductions To The Education Cost Sharing Grant During The Fiscal Year
Prohibits the governor from cutting education cost sharing (ECS) aid grants to towns by (1) using his rescission authority to reduce allotment requisitions or allotments in force or (2) making reductions in allotments in any budgeted agency to achieve General Fund budget savings.

PA 18-80 – An Act Extending the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Tax Credit to Pass-Through Entities
This act extends the manufacturing apprenticeship tax credit to the personal income tax, thus
allowing the owners and partners of qualifying companies organized as partnerships, limited liability
companies, and other pass-through entities to claim the credit against that tax.

PA 18-89 – An Act Concerning Classroom Safety and Disruptive Behavior
This act requires boards of education, as well as the State Department of Education, to address
daily classroom safety as an additional part of the law requiring them to address bullying and teen
dating violence.

PA 18-119 – An Act Concerning Election Day Registration Locations
Prior law required registrars of voters to designate a location within each municipality for
completing and processing Election Day registration applications. This act requires town clerks to
designate a location if the registrars of voters fail to agree on one at least 31 days before the
election.

PA 18-140 – An Act Establishing the State Oversight Council on Children and Families
This act renames the State Advisory Council on Children and Families as the State Oversight
Council on Children and Families and increases its membership from 19 to 25. It replaces 13
members appointed by the governor with 12 members appointed by legislative leaders and one
member appointed by the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee chairpersons. It also
adds (1) the Children’s Committee chairpersons and ranking members, the child advocate, and the
chief public defender, or their designees, to the council and (2) certain required qualifications for
the six members who represent regional advisory councils.

The act also expands and modifies the council’s duties, including requiring it to monitor, track, and
evaluate the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) policies and practices related to child and
youth safety, permanency, and well-being.

PA 18-156 – An Act Concerning an Animal Abuse Registry
This act requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to create and
maintain, within available appropriations, a publicly-available registry of individuals who are
convicted, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, of certain animal abuse
crimes.

PA 18-157 – An Act Concerning State Contract Assistance Provided To Certain Municipalities
This act imposes several new conditions and requirements on state financial assistance to repay
bonds and other debt for designated tier III and IV municipalities (i.e., those with higher degrees of financial distress and state oversight and control).

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HARTFORD – During the 2018 legislative session, State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus has celebrated the role women play in a wide range of fields, from being a student or teacher to owning a business or being an elected leader.

In March, Rep. Zupkus celebrated Women’s History Month with local leaders, students, and business owners.

Pictured with Rep. Zupkus – Micayla Barrows (Miss Southbury), Rep. Lezlye Zupkus, Aizlyn Zupkus (Tulane University Navy National ROTC Scholarship), Anaga Dinesh (WRHS Valedictorian), Anna Witkowski (WRHS student body present/BOE Rep), and Kaylee Walsh (WRHS Salutatorian).

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Dear Neighbors,

Let’s send a message to the majority party that we don’t need tolls!

Sign my petition now!

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