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2017 session

Effort Resumes To Raise The Age

by Mark Pazniokas | Mar 3, 2017 9:02 am | Comments (6)

Markeshia RicksPhoto

Walker: Still helping to lead a campaign she helped launch.

In a Boys & Girls Club not far from the State Capitol, the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy renewed its push to expand the reach of the juvenile court system, a reform endorsed by a leading criminal justice expert at Harvard and imitated by the states of Illinois, Massachusetts and Vermont.

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After-School Programs Face Budget Axe

by Markeshia Ricks | Mar 2, 2017 2:30 pm | Comments (2)

Markeshia Ricks Photo

After-school STEM/Medical Arts crew: Evann Meyers, Hallena Bolden, Linda Torres.

“That’s a real dead body,” 15-year-old Evann Meyers recalled thinking during a recent trip to a local morgue.

It wasn’t a typical day in her after-school program at Common Ground High School, but it was memorable. And because of state budget cuts it could soon be a rare adventure.

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Hausladen Testifies For Safer Streets

by Staff | Feb 23, 2017 8:58 am | Comments (6)

On Wednesday, New Haven Director of Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking Doug Hausladen testified at a hearing of the state legislature’s Transportation Committee on three bills that have ramifications for the city.

The first, a House bill introduced by State Rep. Roland Lemar and other members of the New Haven delegation, would modify guidelines for urban street designs ​“to improve the safety, economic life and vibrancy of urban streets.” Specifically, that means new uses of parking spots, rules for one-way intersections, lower speed limits, and handicap accessibility concerns.

The second, a Senate bill proposed by Stanford State Sen. Carlo Leone, would increase the fees remitted to municipalities — as in, directly to New Haven — for moving (i.e. driving) violations like running stop signs. 

The third is intended to increase safety at pedestrian crosswalks.

Following are his testimonies. 

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Repeal Seems Dead, But Just In Case ...

by Markeshia Ricks | Feb 22, 2017 5:36 pm | Comments (1)

Markeshia Ricks Photo

Repeal opponents at the Capitol Wednesday.

Candelaria: Beware Lazarus effect.

Hartford — A Republican legislator’s bill to repeal a state law that allows undocumented people to obtain driver’s licenses is expected to die in committee. But New Haven activists and a least one of the city’s state representatives is worried that it won’t stay dead.

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HB 6352: An Act Establishing a Tire Stewardship Program

by Kevin McCarthy | Feb 13, 2017 11:54 am | Comments (0)

Sponsored by: Reps. Ritter, Gresko, McCrory 

Statement of Purpose: To establish a tire stewardship program in the state.

Referred to: Environment

Public hearing date: 2/8

How A Bill Becomes A Law

At the beginning of the session, legislators introduce proposed bills. A proposed bill includes a statement of purpose, which describes (usually in general terms) what the bill seeks to do.

The bill is referred to the committee that has jurisdiction over the bill’s subject matter. The House and Senate chairs of the committee typically decide which bills the committee will hear. Often they consult with the committee’s ranking members (the committee’s senior minority party representative and senator). The committee may have the Legislative Commissioners Office draft the bill in legal language before it is heard, although this is not common.

Legislators, agency representatives, lobbyists, and the public can testify at the hearing. After the hearing, the committee can vote to draft the bill if it has not already been drafted. The committee can then vote to give the bill a favorable report or take no action. The committee can report the bill to another , which can report it out in its original form, amend it, or take no action. More commonly, the committee that originates the bill reports it to the floor of the House or Senate, depending on whether it is a House bill or Senate Bill.

When the bill is reported to the floor, it gets a file. The file includes the drafted bill, an analysis of what it does, and its fiscal impact on the state government and municipalities. The House and Senate routinely refer bills to a second committee. For example, a bill establishing a new program will be referred to the Appropriations Committee if the program requires additional staff. The second committee can report the bill out in its original form, recommend adoption of an amendment, or take no action. Complex bills can go through three or more committees.

The House or Senate can vote on the bill, amend it, or take no action. If passed, the bill (with any adopted amendments) goes to the second chamber. The second chamber votes on the bill and each adopted amendment. If the chamber adopts the bill in concurrence, i.e., with the same language, the bill goes to the governor. If the second chamber adopts a version of the bill that differs from the version passed in the first chamber, the bill goes back to the first chamber. For example, if the House adopts a bill with House amendments ​“A” and ​“B” and the Senate adds Senate Amendment ​“A”, the bill goes back to the House. If the House passes the bill in concurrence, i.e., with all three amendments, the bill goes to governor. If the chambers do not agree, they appoint a conference committee, which can develop compromise language which then goes to each chamber for a vote.

The governor can sign or reject a bill passed by both chambers. The legislature can overturn a veto by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

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