Rochelle's autism bill receives bipartisan support in the House

State Rep. Kara Rochelle

HARTFORD - Legislation proposed by state Rep. Kara Rochelle, D-Ansonia, received unanimous bipartisan approval Wednesday by the House of Representatives. 

H.B. 6184, An Act Concerning Access to Information on Early Childhood Interventions, will next be voted on by the Senate. 

The bill will require: (1) the Office of Early Childhood to develop a document concerning developmental milestones experienced by children from birth to age five and information on how to access the Child Development Infoline; and (2) child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes to post copies of such document on the premises of such centers and homes in a prominent location for parents or guardians to see regularly.

“Signs of autism are often present as early as 18 months of age and early intervention can make a big difference for children on the spectrum,” Rochelle said. “I was focused on creating a bill that will foster awareness amongst child care providers and parents about early childhood developmental milestones and what to do if a child is struggling to hit milestones. The first step to getting a child help is knowledge.” 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 59 children was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in 2018. 

“I heard concerns from our local educators that more children must be evaluated for early intervention earlier than kindergarten," Rochelle said. "It is scientifically shown that the earlier the intervention the better the outcome for children with autism and other developmental delays.

"Thank you to all my legislative colleagues and advocates who helped this bill move forward.”  

This is a press release from Rochelle's office.

Rochelle's manufacturing training bill wins bipartisan support

State Rep. Kara Rochelle’s proposed legislation received unanimous, bipartisan approval Thursday by the Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement. 

H.B. 5833, An Act Establishing a Pilot Program for the Expansion of Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Programs, will next be voted on by the House this session. 

The bill aims to establish a pilot program to expand advanced manufacturing certificate programs offered by regional community-technical colleges to up to eight public high schools throughout the state. 
Students from the selected school and surrounding high schools will be able to apply and participate in the certificate program, which will be available to students free of cost.  
At Housatonic Community College, this same certificate program costs $8,500. 
Credits earned in Rochelle’s pilot program will count toward both the student’s high school credits and toward the Advanced Manufacturing certificate program. 
The bill also requires night and weekend classes to be available for adults.  
Rochelle, a Democrat, represents Ansonia and Derby.

“I toured the Housatonic Community College Advanced Manufacturing Program a year ago and learned of its efforts to create a first-in-the-state partnership with our own Derby High School. Ever since I have been fiercely dedicated to establishing and expanding access to these certificate programs,” Rochelle said. “I worked tirelessly from the day I was sworn in to author and craft a bill that will give our students and working class residents a real pathway to the training needed to compete for these good paying, middle class jobs in a field with room for advancement.” 

According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, there are over 12,000 open jobs in advanced manufacturing in Connecticut and 30,000 are expected to open over the next 10 years due to a retirement wave.  
Manufacturing is also the third largest growing job sector in Connecticut. It is crucial to strategically invest in workforce training to ensure that this industry is supported.

“I would also like to thank my Derby colleagues Minority Leader Themis Klarides and Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria for recently signing on to support my bill, touring the Derby facility, and producing a video to highlight the program. We need to rebuild, reinvest, and reinvent Connecticut. I am excited to introduce my bill in the House this session and collaborate with colleagues to make this important initiative a reality for our residents,” Rochelle said. 


This is a press release from Rochelle's office.

Klarides-Ditria lauds passage of state budget

Dear Neighbors,

After 117 days, the Connecticut General Assembly has passed another bipartisan budget, this time by a wide 126-23 margin in the House of Representatives and a 33-3 margin in the state Senate. 

I supported this broad, bipartisan agreement, and the large majority of votes from both parties indicates the likelihood of a veto override if the Governor once again vetoes the budget.

We were able to close a massive $3.5 billion deficit with only about 1 percemt of total revenue resulting from tax and fee policy changes. 

Although the SEBAC union agreement approved by the majority party in July deeply constrained our abilities to reduce spending, we were able to reduce non-contractual spending in many areas of the budget while protecting services for those most vulnerable in our community, including individuals with intellectual disabilities, working families, and seniors. 

The budget also reduces overall bond authorizations, helping to control debt service spending for years to come.

Importantly, the budget features a variety of long-lasting spending constraints:

• Finally after 25+ years, it implements an effective constitutional cap on state spending;
• An annual bonding cap of $1.9 billion in borrowing, a half billion less than what Governor Malloy approved to put on the state's credit card last year;
• A revenue cap that prevents the state from spending all the money it expects to take in annually;
• A volatility cap that will automatically send any excess revenue to the Budget Reserve Fund and help fund pension and debt service liabilities.

The budget also provides for tax relief by phasing in tax reductions for Social Security income, pension, and annuity income, and gift and estate taxes for many residents across our state.

Additionally, this budget does not include the large tax increases that were previously proposed by Gov. Malloy and the majority party, including proposed hikes to the income tax, sales tax, and hotel tax or new taxes on cell phone bills, homeowners insurance polices, restaurants, or investment properties. 
It also does not eliminate the car tax as once proposed.

As with any budget, however, it is not perfect. There are minimal revenue increases, reductions to energy efficiency programs, and greater contributions by teachers towards their pensions, which will go to their pensions - Not the General Fund. I do, however, feel that the good achieved by this budget far outweighs the tough decisions made to help balance it.

For more information on the bipartisan budget, visit cthousegop.com/budget.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to reach me at 860-240-8700 or Nicole-Klarides-Ditria@housegop.ct.gov.

Sincerely,

State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria 

Lawmakers pass veto-proof state budget

3 Valley Republicans react to approval

HARTFORD - House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, and state Sen. George A. Logan Thursday announced the final approval of a bipartisan budget that averts Gov. Dannel Malloy’s devastating education cuts to cities and towns and installs structural municipal mandate reform that will provide long-term relief sought by local leaders and the taxpayers they serve. 

House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby,  said, “This is a day of hope for the people of Connecticut. The budget we have put in place includes historic spending constraints that will hedge against future deficits. While this budget is not perfect, it reflects the core Republican components of spending restraints, less borrowing so that we can finally start living within our means.”

Klarides said the state will be able to close the massive deficit with less than a 1 percent increase in taxes and fees. The bulk of the tax hikes are on cigarette sales and the hospital taxes that will be refunded by the federal government once the state completes its application to the Federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

State Rep. Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, added, “It has been 117 days without a state budget in place, and over a month since the governor’s reckless executive order went into place. Our communities would have been devastated if the governor continued to control the state finances. 

"As a freshman state representative, I was proud to see Democrats and Republicans work together to craft a budget that makes real structural changes. We still need to make more spending and tax reforms, but this budget moves us in that direction.”

State Sen. George S. Logan, R-Ansonia, said, “This bipartisan budget provides predictable municipal aid so that Ansonia and Derby know what they can count on from the state. This plan averts the deep cuts contained in the governor’s executive order.  It does not shift teacher pension costs onto towns and cities.  We cap state spending and borrowing. We do not increase the sales tax or income tax.  We do not put a tax on cell phones.  We protect funding for individuals with disabilities.  We protect funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment to fight the opioid epidemic.  We protect services for seniors, including the CT Home Care Program, Meals on Wheels and non ADA dial a ride.  It is an honor to represent Ansonia and Derby, and we will always work tirelessly to protect taxpayers.”

The budget features a variety of spending constraints:

 •    Finally, implements an effective cap on state spending;

•    An annual bonding cap of $1.9 billion in borrowing, a half billion less than what Connecticut put on its credit card last year;

•    A revenue cap that prevents the state from spending all the money it expects to take in annually. Somehow we always seem to fall short of revenue projections;

•    A volatility cap that will automatically send any excess revenue to the Budget Reserve Fund.

In addition, the budget also blocked tax increases on income, sales, and hotels and new taxes on cell phones, secondary homes, and restaurants.  

The approved budget also prevented the teacher pension shift to municipalities and will phase-in exemptions of taxes on Social Security, pensions, and estates.   

The budget passed the House 126-23, after several hours of debate, a margin that would overturn another veto by the governor. 

For more information on the bipartisan budget, visit cthousegop.com/budget. 

This is a press release from the House Republicans' office.

Opinion: Gentile urges bipartisan cooperation on state budget

By Linda M. Gentile

State Representative

Wednesday, June 8, marked the official end of the regular 2017 legislative session. 

But there is still work to be done.

The legislature will now go into special session to discuss and approve of a two-year state budget. 

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile 

Passing a bipartisan budget has always been my hope. Regardless of political party, the legislature needs to go into special session with a sense of urgency and pass a responsible budget that helps strengthen our state and local economies, and reflects the priorities of the people of Connecticut. 

I don’t believe that failure to agree upon a responsible budget is an option.

Good ideas are not exclusive to a political party. I am hopeful that my colleagues across the aisle will drop all political campaign rhetoric, and work in a collaborative manner to meet the challenges we all face.

I truly believe our future is stronger when both parties work together, so it is my hope that we can put our political differences aside and talk openly and honestly about the budget and what needs to be done. 

House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, have set the stage for Democrats and Republicans to come together to have these conversations. 

And we must have these conversations and work towards a solution and agree on what’s best for the districts we represent, as well as the state.

When I walk into special session, I will continue to fight for a budget that will protect hardworking families, hospitals, and education, not only in the 104th District, but for the State of Connecticut, as well. 

I will fight for a budget that promotes job growth and encourages economic development. And, I will fight for a budget that ensures our tax dollars are being spent as efficiently as possible. 

This is about forging a path for a stronger Connecticut, with policies that work for all of us. I will be working with all of my colleagues to accomplish this. 

I hope that we will all come into special session ready to work together to put forth a responsible budget that reflects the priorities of our districts and our state.

Gentile, a Democrat, represents the 104th District, which includes parts of Ansonia and Derby.

This is a press release from the House Democrats' press office.