State Representative DebraLee Hovey (R-112) participated in a joint public hearing of the legislature’s Human Services Committee and the Select Committee of Children this week, reviewing the practices of the State Department of Children and Families (DCF).

The hearing and review was sparked by a shocking incident in Torrington of child neglect where police officers were put on hold for over half an hour when seeking assistance from the agency through their hotline number.

Rep. Hovey, who serves as the Ranking member on the Children’s Committee, noted that while DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton has already directed a top-down review of agency procedures and response during this event, the Human Services Committee has a responsibility to review it as well.  Hovey expressed disappointment that the Commissioner did not show up for the hearing.

The hearing focused on overall procedure and not on any individual case such as the one that prompted legislators to convene.

“This legislative committee has oversight on the Department of Children and Families, and we need to be absolutely certain that this kind of failure is addressed and rectified,” said Rep. Hovey.  “It is understandable that this agency can be overwhelmed at times, but there needs to be a better system in place to respond to these sorts of reports, especially when you have law enforcement official calling in for an assist.  This case potentially reveals some significant holes in process for the agency.  Where improper or inadequate procedures were in place, there was failure.  Where there were proper procedures in place, it appears that those procedures were not followed, and staff have been allowed to make independent judgment calls without proper basis.”

The hearing lasted over three hours.  Legislators heard from representatives from DCF, the office of the Child Advocate and the Child Protection Attorney.

The water supply for residents in the Greenridge Tax District in Brookfield is contaminated by uranium, and state health and utility officials are considering a permit that would have United Water Co. construct a line that would carry water from their supply in neighboring Newtown. Problem is, residents in Newtown are worried about a drain on their water as well as the headaches that go with construction. What’s more, Greenridge residents have balked at absorbing the cost of the multi-million dollar project.

Brookfield resident Scribner and Hovey, who represents Newtown, have worked with local and state officials to reach a solution that everyone can live with.

“Our intent is to provide residents with potable water with the least expensive price tag, with the least amount of disruption,” said Scribner a member of the legislature’s Public Health Committee. “With this latest plan, we’ve moved much closer to that goal.”

Brookfield First Selectman Bill Davidson has floated a plan that would see the recently completed Silvermine Road waterline extended to Greenridge, providing water from three water companies—including United—rather than tapping into the Newtown supply. Davidson contends it would cost Greenridge residents a lot less, too. 

At first blush, the proposal seems to make sense, Hovey said.

“To this point, we have people in two communities who are less than thrilled with the solution outlined in the permit under consideration today,” she said. “At no point should a the state or any other entity overlook a municipality’s concerns, and I’m glad that folks inside these state regulatory agencies have an alternative proposal to consider—a plan that seems more sensitive to the concerns of Newtown and Brookfield residents.”

The departments of Public Utility Control and Public Health will meet again Aug. 24.

Rep. Hovey voted against the S.B. 551 when it was first before the state House on July 30. The bill did eventually pass, and was subsequently vetoed by the Governor. On a party line vote today, the veto was over-ridden by the super-majority Democrats.

“At a time when Connecticut is facing record deficits projected to be $7 billion in the next two years, it is irresponsible to be doling out $3 million more in taxpayer funds to be used on political campaigns,” said Rep. Hovey. “I support Gov. Rell’s decision to veto this bill, as we try and get Connecticut’s economy back on track and get its fiscal house in order.”

Recent court rulings have found that the so-called “trigger” grants designed to offset campaign money from self-funding candidates violates the First Amendment guarantees to free speech. Despite those rulings, the majority party decided to use legislative fiat to achieve what they wanted.

Rep. Hovey was a facilitator for the presentation on State Transportation Priorities:Federal, State Regulatory and State Legislative Roles.  The presentation focused on how the federal government provides more than $50 billion a year to the states for national infrastructure, allowing states to set priorities and objectives. How these priorities are set differs from state to state, but cooperation is essential. The session provided an overview of the importance of this funding to states and how state legislatures and state agencies can work together to guide priorities for spending these funds.

“There is a great deal to be learned from colleagues across America that can benefit us right here at home,” said Rep. Hovey.  “Attending these events helps me bring back the best ideas from around the country, and share with them what we’re doing.”

Women In Government, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a national, non-profit, bi-partisan organization of women state legislators that provides leadership opportunities, networking expert forums, and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues.

Rep. Hovey’s attendance at the conference was done without use of taxpayer dollars.

Rep. DebraLee Hovey, who represents Monroe and Newtown, attended the event along with firefighters. Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed bill 5282: An act Concerning Firefighters, Police Offices and Workers’ Compensation Claims Pertaining to Certain Diseases.

The bill states uniformed members of paid municipal or volunteer fire departments, regular members of municipal police departments or constables, or members of volunteer ambulance services shall be eligible for benefits for any disease arising out of an in the course of employment.

He will be discussing awareness and preparation of individuals and communities in the event of a terror threat.  In addition, the predictions for the current hurricane season are serious and potentially catastrophic.  The Commissioner will be addressing storm response and preparation at length. 

The event will be held on Monday, June 28, at 7 PM in the Monroe Town Hall.

“Residents who want to know about Connecticut’s preparation for a disaster or how they can better prepare themselves and their family will not want to miss this,” said Representative Hovey.

Click here for more details.

Under current law, the state is requiring suspended students to serve their suspensions in school instead of off premises effective July of 2010. The amendment offered by Rep. Hovey and Republicans would postpone that requirement from taking effect until 2012.

“I can understand the policy position that a student who is suspended should not get free time off from school and that a school suspension should be viewed as punishment, not a vacation,” said Rep. Hovey. “However, making that policy a reality has real and substantial costs to school districts as they reallocate resources and school personnel. With times as lean as these some school districts are being faced with laying off teachers and personnel. Is an in-school suspension policy important enough to potentially lose teachers across the state over? Is it important enough to reallocate resources that can be used to educate children for? I don’t think it is.”

The amendment was rejected on a party-line by majority Democrats in the House.

“I think a vote like this is sobering,” said Rep. Hovey. “It really shows you where the majority’s priorities are.

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes at midnight on Wednesday May 5th.

Representative DebraLee Hovey (R-112) worked successfully this week to obtain passage of a measure in the State House that would create a crime of second-degree misconduct with a motor vehicle for those whose negligence causes serious injury to “vulnerable users” of a public way.

The measure defines a vulnerable user as a pedestrian, a highway worker on duty, a person driving or riding an animal, a bicyclist, skateboarder, individual in a wheelchair or an operator of agricultural tractor or farm equipment among other things.

“I think it is sometimes easy for people to forget that the highways and roads of the state are legal routes for transportation modes other that motor vehicles,” said Rep. Hovey. “Bikers, horse riders, and others have a right to the safe use of these public ways and this measure creates stiff penalties for those whose negligence causes injury to them.”

Second-degree misconduct with a motor vehicle is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison, a maximum fine of $ 2,000, or both. Under the bill, the court must partially or completely suspend the prison term and impose a period of probation. As a condition of probation the offender must attend a motor vehicle operator’s retraining program and perform up to 100 hours of community service.

The bill, HB 5457, An Act Concerning for Harm to Vulnerable Users of a Public Way passed the House by a vote of 140-3. It now heads to the Senate for action there.

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes at midnight on Wednesday May 5th.

The proposal would also require that a Jobs Impact Statements accompany bills and amendments—a move addressing the business community’s complaint that the legislature habitually passes bills without considering how they affect employers.

Some Democrats spoke in favor of the proposal offered by Rep. Hovey and her Republican colleagues or praised its content, yet the majority ultimately voted against it.

“It’s pretty interesting to me that when there’s a chance to pass legislation that hurts the business community’s ability to create jobs the legislature acts quickly,” said Rep. Hovey. “Yet, when we look to pass legislation to help create jobs in a state with 9% unemployment, the majority feels we need to study it for a year and a half. The time to act is now. We have one week left of this session and time is running out.”

Hovey and Republicans attached their pro-jobs proposal to a Democrat plan to create a commission to study how the state can generate more revenue—in other words, tax residents and businesses.

The Republican proposal was rejected 105-38.

The jobs-creation proposal included:

• Repeal of the Business Entity Tax on all businesses.
• Creates Small business revolving loan fund (direct loans only)–$25 million cap on the program.
• Job Creation Tax Credit Program—creates a tax credit for employers who employ 100 employees or less. Employers may receive a $4,800/per employee for every hire off of unemployment.
• Requires that Jobs Impact Statements accompany bills and amendments
• Create DECD ombudsman to help streamlining the permitting process for businesses.

It also prohibits zoning laws that prevent the use of recycling receptacles, expands curbside recycling, requires recycling at certain gathering venues and requires solid waste collection contracts to provide for recycling.

“I feel that it is particularly fitting that on Earth Day this year we have passed a significant measure which will improve the process of recycling across the state,” said Rep. Hovey. “In our region which has terrific open space and riverside land a clean environment is especially essential for our quality of life. This bill will go a long way toward that goal.”

The bill

• requires solid waste collectors and most municipalities to offer curbside or backyard recycling to those to whom they offer curbside or backyard waste removal;

• requires recycling receptacles at common gathering venues that already have solid waste collection and that generate designated recyclable items;

• prohibits zoning regulations from barring recycling receptacles, requiring receptacles conform to most bulk or lot area regulations, or unreasonably restricting size or access to recycling receptacles;

• requires contracts between solid waste contractors and their commercial customers to address how the customers’ recycling will be handled;

• modifies and adds to the contents of the annual recycling reports municipalities submit to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP);

• requires the DEP to report on composting facilities and, in consultation with the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE), submit a study on the beneficial uses of ash residue; and

• creates new reporting requirements for solid waste and recycling collectors.