As the 2016 legislative session moves forward, it is important that legislators hear from you about any concerns or questions you have about proposed bills. Just because a bill has made it out of the committee process does not mean that it will be passed by the legislature. If there is a bill you feel strongly about please reach out to me. Together we can make Connecticut a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Report by Paula Antolini
March 24, 2016 6:11PM EDT
Sen. Boucher: Capitol Update
The first part of the 2016 legislative session is coming to a close. We have reached the deadline for most committees to send their bills to the full legislature for consideration. Below are bills of interest that where passed from the Transportation Committee and the Education Committee, along with short summaries of how each bill may affect you.
Transportation Lockbox
HJ 1: RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROTECT THE RESOURCES OF THE SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION FUND.
The proposed lockbox on the state’s Special Transportation Fund is necessary to prevent the current as well as future legislatures from raiding the STF. This has, unfortunately been common practice to fill budget deficits in the past and as recently as last December 2015. After many rounds of proposals, including my own, to stop the raids on this vital transportation funding source, the lockbox is finally gaining traction.
A constitutional amendment to protect the STF is only productive if it has strong and specific language that addresses exactly which revenue streams are to go into it, and exactly what those funds can be spent on. The current language does not meet that standard and I have been working across the aisle to address these issues and protect the STF so that Connecticut can build the infrastructure it needs and it deserves.
Education Bills
S.B. 380: AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXCLUSION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE RESULTS ON THE MASTERY EXAMINATION FROM TEACHER EVALUATIONS.
This bill prohibits mastery examination results from being used on teacher evaluations as an indicator of student academic growth. It also requires the State Board of Education in consultation with Performance Evaluation Advisory Council to adopt a teacher evaluation model that reflects this change.
S.B. 323: AN ACT CONCERNING UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.
This bill would require DCF to give notify a school employee under investigation by the agency of the results of that investigation. If the investigation determines the complaint was unsubstantiated the State Department of Education, the Superintendent, and the school district will be required to remove all references to the investigation from the personnel record. The unsubstantiated report would not preclude the State Department of Education and/or the local school board from conducting its own investigation, and taking action against the employee. However, any action taken with respect to this person’s employment cannot be based solely on the unsubstantiated report.
H.B. 5469: AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT DATA PRIVACY.
This bill outlines requirements in agreements between data contractors and boards of education in order to protect student data. It prohibits a contractor from using personally identifiable information for advertising, or for any non-school related purpose, and also implements data security requirements that data contractors would need to follow.
These are just a few of the 3-4 thousand bills proposed and the several hundred that will be voted on this session. The major issue that looms large and overshadows all others is the state budget deficit and how this will affect the taxpayers, towns, and school budgets. It has already had devastating effects on our hospitals and services for the disabled. The next few weeks with be telling as state labor unions lock horns with the legislature and Governor over possible concessions.
As the 2016 legislative session moves forward, it is important that legislators hear from you about any concerns or questions you have about proposed bills. Just because a bill has made it out of the committee process does not mean that it will be passed by the legislature. If there is a bill you feel strongly about please reach out to me. Together we can make Connecticut a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
**Senator Toni Boucher can be contacted by phone: 1-800-842-1421 or email: Toni.Boucher@cga.ct.gov
Leave a Reply