Senator Judith G. Freedman (R-26) is urging constituents to become familiar with new state laws that became effective July 1st.
“Every bill passed by the General Assembly affects someone - perhaps you - so it makes sense for Connecticut residents to become familiar with those new laws as they take effect,” said Senator Freedman, adding that the General Assembly’s nonpartisan Office Of Legislative Research describes these new laws in its OLR Major Acts report.
Senator Freedman said she is especially pleased that the General Assembly included $15 million in the just passed biennial state budget to implement the recommendations of the Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Committee, of which she is a member.
Some of the laws effective as of July 1st include:
- An Act Concerning Jessica's Law And Consensual Sexual Activity Between Adolescents Close In Age To Each Other (PA 07-143) among other things, establishes a new crime of aggravated sexual assault of a minor that calls for stiff, mandatory, prison sentences.
- An Act Concerning Notice Of Certain Probate Court Hearings And The Filing Of Certain Reports.(PA 07-184) which gives the probate court administrator additional powers over probate courts and probate court judges and, among other changes, increases the minimum number of hours a court must be open.
- An Act Concerning Loans To Municipalities To Fully Fund Pension Systems (PA 07-204) creates a municipal pension solvency loan program to provide municipalities with funds for their unfunded employee pension liabilities.
- An Act Concerning The Creation Of A Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, A State Building Code For Agriculture, And Zoning Regulation Of Farming (PA 07-162) among other things establishes a 12-member Farmland Preservation Advisory Board to help the state Department of Agriculture with its purchasing of development rights program and other efforts to preserve farmland.
- An Act Implementing The Recommendations Of The Brownfields Task Force (PA 07-233) creates a new program to finance cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields, including permitting the state’s development finance agency to guarantee bank loans for redeveloping brownfields and to issue bonds on towns’ behalf for remediating and reusing these sites for homes, apartments, stores and other mixed uses.
- An Act Expanding Connecticut's Film Industry (PA 07-236) establishes a credit against corporation and insurance premium taxes for investments in capital projects that provide basic buildings, facilities or infrastructure that film and digital media industries need to function in Connecticut. Projects must be state certified.
- An Act Concerning The Prevention Of Abusive And Deceptive Debt Collection Practices (PA 07-176) makes creditors who violate state law regarding collection practices liable for damages and other costs under certain circumstances.
- An Act Concerning In-School Suspensions (PA-07-66) requires that student suspensions be in-school suspensions unless the school administration determines that the student poses a danger to persons or property, or that an out-of-school suspension is warranted because the student is disruptive of the educational process.
- An Act Concerning Security Assessments And Assistance For Schools And Emergency Response Plans For Institutions Of Higher Education (PA 07-208)among other thingsrequires school districts applying for construction grants for new schools or major school alternations, extensions, renovations or replacements to include security infrastructure for any entrances involved in the plans.
- An Act Concerning Adequate Funding Of The Teachers' Retirement System (PA 07-186) authorizes 30-year general obligation bonds to fund $2 billion of the unfunded liability of the Teachers’ Retirement System and exempts the bonds from the state’s debt limit.
“I always welcome calls from constituents, and especially look forward to opportunities to discuss legislation under consideration or laws we have passed. I can be reached at my legislation office in Hartford at 1-800-842-1421, or via e-mail at Judith.G.Freedman@cga.ct.gov,” said Senator Freedman.
For More Information:
Senator Judith G. Freedman
203-226-8710 (Home)
Catherine Sarault (press contact)
860-240-8818; Catherine.Sarault@cga.ct.gov
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