Journal of the House 02/09/2010

The House of Representatives was called to order at 11: 33 o'clock a. m. , Representative Widlitz of the 98th District in the Chair.

Prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Dassy J. Nunez of Hartford, Connecticut.

Let us pray. Almighty Father, there is much work ahead of us. Grant us Your wisdom so that our decisions will be constructive in bringing forth just legislation. Amen.

The following communication was received from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the date indicated, read by the Clerk and ordered printed in the Journal.

This letter is to inform you of the following change to committee and leadership assignments:

Representative Kim Fawcett has been removed from the Environment Committee and has been appointed to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.

The following communications were received from Her Excellency, the Governor, on the date indicated, read by the Clerk and referred to the Committee on Executive and Legislative Nominations.

Pursuant to Sections 4-1 and 10-1 of the Connecticut General Statutes, I have the honor to nominate and, with your advice and consent, appoint HANNAH KLEIN from Woodbridge, to be a member of the State Board of Education, as a non-voting student member, to serve a term ending June 30, 2010 or until a successor is appointed and has qualified, whichever is longer, in succession to Christine Larson.

Pursuant to Sections 4-1 and 10-1 of the Connecticut General Statutes, I have the honor to nominate and, with your advice and consent, appoint HUNTER KODAMA from North Stonington, to be a member of the State Board of Education, as a non-voting student member, to serve a term ending June 30, 2010 or until a successor is appointed and has qualified, whichever is longer, in succession to Brandt Smallwood.

On motion of Representative Robles of the 6th District, the first reading of the following bills and resolutions was waived, the list of bills and resolutions as prepared by the Clerks was accepted, and the bills and resolutions referred to the committees as indicated thereon in concurrence.

Proposed H. B. No. 5069 REP. ROJAS, 9th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE PURCHASE OF CREDIT IN THE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR TEACHING SERVICE IN SUMMER SCHOOL AND ALTERNATIVE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS', to allow public school teachers to purchase credit in the teachers' retirement system for service in a summer school or alternative after-school program so as to provide an incentive for such teachers to work in these programs.

Proposed H. B. No. 5070 REP. JOHNSTON, 51st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEBT SERVICE LINE ITEM IN THE STATE BUDGET', to provide information, itemized by agency, amount and purpose, concerning the appropriation for "Debt Service" included in the state budget for each fiscal year.

Proposed H. B. No. 5071 REP. HURLBURT, 53rd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPAL AID PROGRAMS', to maintain funding levels for the education cost sharing, town aid road and local capital improvement programs that were level-funded in FY10.

Proposed H. B. No. 5072 REP. COUTU, 47th DIST. 'AN ACT DECREASING LEGISLATIVE POSTAL COSTS', to decrease the amount of state funds used for legislators to send mail.

Proposed H. B. No. 5073 REP. CAFERO, 142nd DIST. ; REP. HAMZY, 78th DIST. ; REP. KLARIDES, 114th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONSTITUTIONAL SPENDING CAP', to implement the constitutional limitation on expenditures by the General Assembly.

Proposed H. B. No. 5074 REP. ROLDAN, 4th DIST. 'AN ACT ENCOURAGING BIOMANUFACTURING JOBS IN DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITIES', to encourage biomanufacturing jobs in distressed municipalities.

Proposed H. B. No. 5075 REP. JOHNSTON, 51st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION', to move state reimbursement of local school repairs and renovations from bonding to General Fund appropriations over a period of ten years, saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars in debt service costs in future years.

Proposed H. B. No. 5076 REP. HWANG, 134th DIST. ; REP. ROWE, 123rd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING TAX CREDITS FOR CORPORATIONS THAT DONATE TO SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL', to encourage businesses to provide charitable donations to help low and middle income students attend nonpublic schools by offering a tax credit.

Proposed H. B. No. 5077 REP. HAMZY, 78th DIST. ; REP. NICASTRO, 79th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN BRISTOL', to allow the town of Bristol to proceed with a roof replacement project at Jennings School.

Proposed H. B. No. 5078 REP. MIKUTEL, 45th DIST. ; SEN. MAYNARD, 18th DIST. 'AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ALL-TERRAIN DIVISION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION', to establish an ATV division within the Department of Environmental Protection.

Proposed H. B. No. 5079 REP. STRIPP, 135th DIST. 'AN ACT AUTHORIZING BOAT OCCUPANTS TO FISH PURSUANT TO THE BOAT OWNER'S FISHING LICENSE', to allow occupants of a boat to all fish under the authority of the boat owner's fishing license.

Proposed H. B. No. 5080 REP. BACCHIOCHI, 52nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE INCREASE IN HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSE FEES', to reduce the increase in hunting and fishing license fees that was made in the current state budget.

Proposed H. B. No. 5081 REP. JOHNSTON, 51st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING PAYMENT OF STATE INCOME TAX ON CASINO WINNINGS BY OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS', to generate revenue for Connecticut and bring equity to Connecticut taxpayers.

Proposed H. B. No. 5082 REP. CANDELORA, 86th DIST. ; REP. MINER, 66th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE JOBS CREATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM', to expand the eligibility for a jobs creation tax credit by making the creation of one new job rather than ten new jobs one of the criteria for the credit.

Proposed H. B. No. 5083 REP. COUTU, 47th DIST. 'AN ACT EXEMPTING SMALL BUSINESSES FROM THE BUSINESS ENTITY TAX', to help promote the growth of small businesses in Connecticut.

Proposed H. B. No. 5084 REP. GIANNAROS, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING TAX CREDIT INCENTIVES FOR SMALL INNOVATIVE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES', to improve the business and financial climate through tax credit incentives for small businesses.

Proposed H. B. No. 5085 REP. ARESIMOWICZ, 30th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE ADMISSIONS TAX', to exempt from the admissions tax any not-for-profit entity that conducts events at Rentschler Field.

Proposed H. B. No. 5086 REP. ROLDAN, 4th DIST. 'AN ACT ENCOURAGING HOME OWNERSHIP IN DISTRESSED MUNICIPALITIES', to encourage home ownership in distressed municipalities by providing an increased property tax credit against the personal income tax.

Proposed H. B. No. 5087 REP. CANDELORA, 86th DIST. ; REP. MINER, 66th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING FISCAL NOTES', to enable legislators to ascertain the fiscal impact of bills, where the implementation date has been moved past the biennium budget cycle.

Proposed H. B. No. 5088 REP. HWANG, 134th DIST. 'AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LEARN HERE, LIVE HERE PROGRAM', to allow students who graduate from public or independent institutions of higher learning in this state or from a regional vocational-technical school to participate in a savings plan to help them purchase their first home in this state.

Proposed H. B. No. 5089 REP. HWANG, 134th DIST. ; REP. ROWE, 123rd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRIVATIZATION OF A PORTION OF THE STATE'S SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS', to privatize twenty per cent of all social service programs currently provided by the Department of Social Services, the Department of Developmental Services and any other state agency.

H. B. No. 5090 (RAISED) INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE. 'AN ACT REGULATING THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATORS', to require third-party administrators to be licensed by the Insurance Department, to establish standards for such licensure and the conduct of business by third-party administrators, to grant the Insurance Department access to certain books and records, and to provide enforcement authority to the Insurance Commissioner.

Proposed H. B. No. 5091 REP. ESPOSITO, 116th DIST. 'AN ACT AUTHORIZING KENO GAMES', to increase state revenue.

Proposed H. B. No. 5092 REP. GIANNAROS, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT REQUIRING THE REINSTATEMENT OF TOLLS ON MAJOR STATE HIGHWAYS', to increase state revenue by the reinstatement of tolls on major state highways.

Proposed H. B. No. 5093 REP. HURLBURT, 53rd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING POOLING GROUPS', to encourage regional cooperation by eliminating any impediments to municipalities and regions forming pooling groups for the purpose of procuring health insurance.

Proposed H. B. No. 5094 REP. HURLBURT, 53rd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX', to reduce state-imposed costs on towns and cities.

Proposed H. B. No. 5095 REP. DILLON, 92nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS', to provide funds for after school programs.

Proposed H. B. No. 5096 REP. DILLON, 92nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING SUMMER SCHOOL FUNDING', to provide additional funding for summer school.

Proposed H. B. No. 5097 REP. DILLON, 92nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING APPROPRIATE FUNDING UNDER THE ECS GRANT', to provide that funding under the education cost-sharing grant cover increases in basic operating expenditures for contracted salaries, utilities, special education and transportation.

Proposed H. B. No. 5098 REP. MUSHINSKY, 85th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING', to create a uniform system for special education and to reduce unpredictable expenses for towns.

Proposed H. B. No. 5099 REP. O'BRIEN, 24th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING FULL STATE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION', to provide full state funding for education.

Proposed H. B. No. 5100 REP. ROJAS, 9th DIST. ; REP. LARSON, 11th DIST. ; REP. GENGA, 10th DIST. ; SEN. LEBEAU, 3rd DIST. 'AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR RAYMOND LIBRARY IN THE TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD', to provide bonding to fund Raymond Library in the town of East Hartford.

Proposed H. B. No. 5101 REP. GREEN, 1st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXPANSION OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR FOSTER PARENTS ADOPTING CHILDREN', to expand the postsecondary education assistance provided by the Department of Children and Families to include children adopted after December 31, 1995.

Proposed H. B. No. 5102 REP. DILLON, 92nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE FUNDING OF SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CLINICS', to ensure the financial viability of school-based health clinics.

Proposed H. J. No. 2 REP. JOHNSTON, 51st DIST. 'RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO CHANGE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE REQUIRED TO EXCEED THE SPENDING CAP', to more accurately reflect the will of the voters who voted for a constitutional amendment in 1992 to limit state spending by an approximately 4 to 1 margin.

Proposed S. B. No. 69 SEN. CALIGIURI, 16th DIST. 'AN ACT INCREASING THE FINE FOR WILFUL NO SALES SOLICITATION CALL VIOLATIONS', to standardize the penalties for wilful violations of the state no sales solicitation call statute and the federal Do Not Call program.

Proposed S. B. No. 70 SEN. RORABACK, 30th DIST. 'AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION UPON CREATION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT', to encourage and promote the conservation of land through the creation of a tax deduction for land that is protected by a conservation easement.

Proposed S. B. No. 71 SEN. RORABACK, 30th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS GRANTED TO VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL', to prevent emergency services personnel from having to pay state income taxes on the value of any municipal property tax relief such personnel may receive as a result of volunteering services to the municipality.

Proposed S. B. No. 72 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING AN EXPANSION OF THE JOBS CREATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM', to expand the jobs creation tax credit program.

Proposed S. B. No. 73 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING TAX CREDITS FOR EMERGING NEXT GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES', to expand the film tax credit to emerging next generation technologies.

Proposed S. B. No. 74 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A DEDUCTION FROM THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX FOR TRAINING EXPENSES FOR DISCHARGED WORKERS', to allow discharged workers a five-hundred-dollar tax credit against their income tax for retraining expenses.

Proposed S. B. No. 75 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT EXPANDING THE TAX CREDIT FOR HIRING DISPLACED WORKERS', to expand the displaced workers' tax credit and make it available to LLCs and S corporations.

Proposed S. B. No. 76 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE TAX CREDIT FOR HUMAN CAPITAL INVESTMENT', to make the human capital tax credit available to LLCs and S corporations.

Proposed S. B. No. 77 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE ALL APPROPRIATE HEALTH SCREENINGS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION', to permit a healthy living personal income tax deduction as a method of promoting proper preventive health care for residents.

Proposed S. B. No. 78 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT PROVIDING A CORPORATE BUSINESS TAX DEDUCTION FOR EMPLOYERS PROVIDING WELLNESS AND PREVENTIVE CARE PROGRAMS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES', to permit employers to deduct up to one million dollars from their corporate tax liability for the costs incurred in providing wellness and preventive care programs to employees.

Proposed S. B. No. 79 SEN. MCKINNEY, 28th DIST. ; SEN. FASANO, 34th DIST. ; SEN. RORABACK, 30th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING AGENCY CONSOLIDATION AND THE OUTSOURCING OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES', to reduce the state deficit by consolidating agencies and outsourcing government services.

Proposed S. B. No. 80 SEN. CALIGIURI, 16th DIST. ; SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF GENERAL FUND SURPLUSES', to prevent one-time surpluses from being used to fund new recurring expenditures which will only increase the state's ongoing financial obligations and future debt.

Proposed S. B. No. 81 SEN. CALIGIURI, 16th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE CARRINGTON SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT IN WATERBURY', to reclassify the school building project at the Carrington School in Waterbury as a new construction with a change in scope.

Proposed S. B. No. 82 SEN. KISSEL, 7th DIST. 'AN ACT REPEALING INCREASES IN HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSE FEES', to repeal the increase in hunting and fishing license fees that is part of the recently enacted state budget.

Proposed S. B. No. 83 SEN. DOYLE, 9th DIST. 'AN ACT EXEMPTING PERSONAL TRAINERS FROM THE SALES TAX', to eliminate sales tax on personal trainers, thus encouraging jobs.

Proposed S. B. No. 84 SEN. LOONEY, 11th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT', to phase in a state earned income tax credit.

Proposed S. B. No. 85 SEN. CALIGIURI, 16th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING USE OF THE PETROLEUM GROSS RECEIPTS TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS', to require that all revenue generated from the gross receipts tax on petroleum be used to fund transportation projects.

Proposed S. B. No. 86 SEN. DOYLE, 9th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE REPEAL OF THE FILM TAX CREDIT PROGRAM', to eliminate the film tax credit program to help solve the budget crisis.

Proposed S. B. No. 87 SEN. BOUCHER, 26th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE REPEAL OF THE BUSINESS ENTITY TAX', to repeal the business entity tax.

Proposed S. B. No. 88 SEN. MCKINNEY, 28th DIST. ; SEN. FASANO, 34th DIST. ; SEN. RORABACK, 30th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING JOB CREATION', to provide incentives that will create more jobs in Connecticut and reduce the cost of administering ineffective regulations.

Proposed S. B. No. 89 SEN. BOUCHER, 26th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A TAX CREDIT FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS', to create a four-thousand-dollar tax credit for first-time home buyers.

Proposed S. B. No. 90 SEN. LOONEY, 11th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY', to increase the income eligibility level for Medicaid.

Proposed S. B. No. 91 SEN. HARP, 10th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES' ABILITY TO RECOVER THE COST OF BENEFITS', to prohibit the Department of Children and Families from recovering the cost of benefits from adults formerly in the department's custody.

S. B. No. 92 (RAISED) INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE. 'AN ACT CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION EYE DROPS', to require insurance coverage for an additional bottle of prescription eye drops for use by the insured in a day care center or school.

S. B. No. 93 (RAISED) INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE. 'AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE INSURANCE STATUTES', to modify various insurance statutes to strengthen the Insurance Department's ability to regulate the industry and protect consumers and to make technical and conforming changes.

S. B. No. 94 (RAISED) LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF PAYROLL CARDS FOR WAGE PAYMENTS TO EMPLOYEES', to allow employees to elect to have their wages deposited on a payroll debit card account rather than receiving such wages in cash, check or direct deposit.

S. B. No. 95 (RAISED) LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. 'AN ACT PRESERVING GOOD CAUSE FOR LATE FILING OF CERTAIN UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION APPEALS', to allow claimants to appeal after the twenty-one-day deadline, provided the claimants can demonstrate good cause for such late appeal.

S. B. No. 96 (RAISED) LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE AUTHORIZATION OF BONDS OF THE STATE FOR REPLACEMENT OF PATROL RADIO EQUIPMENT FOR CORRECTION OFFICERS', to provide financial assistance for the purchase of replacement patrol radio equipment for correction officers in the Department of Correction.

S. B. No. 97 (RAISED) LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. 'AN ACT CREATING A CIVIL ACTION TO ALLOW CONTRACTORS TO RECOVER UNPAID EMPLOYEE PENSION OBLIGATIONS FROM SUBCONTRACTORS', to allow contractors to bring a civil action to collect pension contributions required by the Labor Department as a result of a subcontractor's failure to make payments.

Proposed S. B. No. 98 SEN. MCLACHLAN, 24th DIST. 'AN ACT INCREASING FINES FOR CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS', to double fines for certain motor vehicle violations.

Proposed S. B. No. 99 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SOUTHERN ENTRANCE RAMP AT EXIT 14 ON ROUTE 8 IN SHELTON', to provide funding for a southern entrance ramp at Exit 14 on Route 8 in Shelton.

Proposed S. B. No. 100 SEN. DEBICELLA, 21st DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADDITION OF ENTRANCE AND EXIT RAMPS ON THE MERRITT PARKWAY AND I-95 IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY', to fund construction of new exit and entrance ramps on the Merritt Parkway and I-95 in Fairfield county in order to reduce highway traffic congestion.

Proposed S. B. No. 101 SEN. KISSEL, 7th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A DEDUCTION FROM THE INCOME TAX FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES', to allow a deduction of up to two thousand five hundred dollars on an individual's state income tax for medical expenses and deductibles.

Proposed S. B. No. 102 SEN. RORABACK, 30th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING CONTRIBUTIONS TO QUALIFIED 529 PLANS', to expand the tax deduction for contributions to college savings plans to include contributions to any qualified 529 plan.

On motion of Representative Robles of the 6th District, the House adjourned at 11: 35 o'clock a. m. , to meet again at the Call of the Chair.