State Representative Elizabeth 'Betsy' Ritter - CT.gov

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future
Projects for southeastern connecticut
Extending full service of Shore Line East to New London and additional
capital improvements to increase
parking, repair bridges, and
purchase locomotive and rail cars;
Purchasing 24 electric rail cars for use
on the New Haven Line and Shore
Line East;
Allocating $1 million to match available
federal funds for acquisition of land for the Route 11 Greenway;
and,
Budgeting $3 million per year in FY 08 and FY 09 to support the
Southeastern Connecticut Tourist Transit System.
enVironMent
Looking to purchase a new computer or television and wondering
how to get rid of the old one? PA 07-189 creates a mandatory recycling
program for discarded computers or televisions that is easy,
free and accessible for all residents in the state at no or minimal
cost to municipalities.
In order to ensure a healthy environment for our children, the legislature
took a major step forward this year by requiring certain
full-sized school busses to be retrofitted with new pollution reducing
emissions systems, and appropriate funds to cover the costs.
PA 07-4
Public safety
In response to a fatal traffic accident involving an unqualified bus
driver, we took quick action to require that the Department of Motor
Vehicles notify public transportation providers when any commercial
driver’s license has been suspended. The law also requires
expanded drug testing with an automatic disqualification for those
with positive test results. PA 07-224
More than 10,000 firearms were stolen in Connecticut during the
last ten years. Many of these guns ended up on the streets of our
cities. PA 07-163 requires any person who lawfully possesses an
assault weapon or firearm that is lost or stolen must report the incident
to the proper law enforcement agencies within seventy-two
hours of when they are discovered or should have discovered the
loss or theft. The bill also establishes the crime of firearm trafficking
if the person knowingly and intentionally allows firearms they own
or possess to be in the possession of someone who is prohibited
from owning or possessing any firearm.
We passed Connecticut’s version of Jessica’s Law, establishing a
new crime of aggravated sexual assault of a child under age 13.
This crime will carry a mandatory minimum prison term of 25 years
for a first offense and 50 years for a second offense. PA 07-143
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Energy reform legislation passed this year benefits consumers by
offering incentives to control usage and to make suitable energy
decisions by:
• Offering rebates and tax exemptions to consumers who invest in
energy-efficient technology as an incentive to replace old air conditioners,
boilers, freezers or other appliances with new models
that use the latest technology and less energy.
• Establishing a sales tax exemption for automobiles that average
more than 40 miles per gallon.
• Encouraging Connecticut consumers to “go green” by allowing
the sales tax free purchase of compressed fluorescent light bulbs
(CFL’s) and energy star products.
• Redirecting conservation fees currently charged on all customers’
monthly electric bills back to the Connecticut Clean Energy and
Conservation Fund to be used to finance programs focused on
conservation and clean energy.
• Allowing households or businesses the option of installing “advanced
meters” to pay for power usage based on “Time of Use”
pricing. PA 07-242
In an effort to expand access to quality and affordable health care
for children, the legislature:
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energy
eMinent doMain
Public Act 07-141 reformed the eminent domain process by prohibiting
the taking of property for economic development and tightening the
process by which property can be used to improve a rundown area. PA
07-207
health
Expanded the HUSKY program to allow access
by more residents.
Established a broad outreach program to identify
and reach all eligible participants.
Expanded HUSKY A coverage for pregnant
women and required automatic enrollment of uninsured newborns.
Added more funding for School-Based Health Clinics so that they
can provide transportation for increased access.
Increased monies for dental services. PA 07-185
The legislature passed a law to ensure that all women who are victims
of sexual assault receive the highest standard of care in all of
Connecticut’s hospitals and emergency care facilities. PA 07-24
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Increased total town aid to towns and municipalities by $8 million.
Significant and unprecedented increases in Waterford and Montville’s
ECS (Education Cost Sharing) funding.
Added $4 million to higher education grant programs to give more
Connecticut residents the opportunity to attend college.
Raised support to nursing homes and nonprofit providers of group
homes by 3%.
Increased Medicaid reimbursements rates for hospitals, doctors,
dentists and clinics.
Increased funding for Head Start and special education.
Allowed $30 million in tax credits for the film industry.
Will reimburse towns and state agencies for one-half of the cost
of required Firefighter I Certification for paid and volunteer firefighters.
Allocated from the $1 billion budget surplus:
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state budget highlights
$250,000 for the DNA Epicenter in New London.
$136 million in the ‘Rainy Day Fund’.
$5 million for Operation Fuel.
RepResentative Betsy RitteR (Right) discusses the impact of
the Budget on southeasteRn connecticut with RepResentative
elissa wRight and RepResentative ted moukawsheR.
The serious problem of the unfunded liability with the Teachers’
Retirement Fund was addressed with PA 07-186. The legislature authorized
30-year general obligation bonds to fund an approximate
$2 billion unfunded liability. In addition, appropriations of $300
million from surplus funds should cover the required annual state
contributions for the next two fiscal years. PA 07-186
insurance
Insurance companies cannot refuse to issue or renew homeowners’
insurance policies simply because the homeowner has not installed
expensive hurricane shutters. In addition, insurers will be required
to offer sound premium discounts to homeowners who do install
permanent storm shutters or impact-resistant glass to mitigate loss
from hurricanes and severe storms. PA 07-77
Legislation passed this year will remove some of the inefficiencies
that resulted in higher insurance premiums for condominium owners.
Unit owners, rather than the board of directors, can now purchase
different types of insurance if they so choose to make the
decision. PA 07-68