Legislative Session Reaches Halfway Mark, Catholics Stage Rally To Oppose Bill

We have reached the halfway point in this year’s legislative session and committees are moving dozens of bills forward each day. The following are several bills I’ve introduced, with details courtesy of the Legislature’s non-partisan Office of Legislative Research.

House Bill 5512, An Act Concerning Relief For Municipalities Through A Prevailing Wage Moratorium, would amend state law to temporarily increase the threshold amount for construction projects that are currently required to abide by prevailing wage laws to one million dollars for both new construction and renovations.

House Bill 5537, An Act Concerning Approval Of Unfunded State Mandates, would require a vote of two-thirds of the members of the General Assembly before passing an unfunded state mandate. The term ‘unfunded mandate’ has become a buzzword in recent years. It refers to mandates placed on towns and cities by the Legislature without it supplying corresponding state funding.

House Bill 5593, An Act Concerning Deed Restrictions On Accessory Apartments, would clarify affordable housing statutes by amending state law to eliminate the 10-year deed restriction currently required for accessory apartments to be counted as affordable housing. This bill was introduced at the request of local leaders who have raised concerns about the impact state affordable housing laws may have on their municipalities.

House Bill 5607, An Act Concerning Information On Marriage Licenses, would amend state law to prevent the release of Social Security numbers on marriage licenses to justices of the peace. Identity Theft remains a significant problem, that is often perpetrated in part, through obtaining the victim’s Social Security number. This bill is follow-up legislation to state law enacted last year that prohibits parents’ Social Security numbers from released on their children’s birth certificates, except in limited circumstances.

House Bill 6225, An Act Establishing A “Move Over” Law For Motor Vehicles, would require drivers to move over one lane, if possible, if an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the shoulder or in the lane of a highway. If it is not possible to safely move over one lane, the drivers would be required to decrease the vehicle’s speed to below the speed limit and be prepared to stop. This bill was one of several introduced on this subject this year.

Much of the news during the past week at the Capitol focused on a legislative proposal that would strip Roman Catholic Churches of control of their finances. More than 4,000 Connecticut Catholics rallied at the State Capitol on March 11 in opposition to Senate Bill 1098, An Act Modifying Corporate Laws Relating To Certain Religious Corporations.

SB 1098 was introduced by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee co-chairmen, Rep. Michael Lawlor (D-99) and Sen. Andrew McDonald (D-27). After Catholic organizations announced they would testify in opposition to the bill during a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday and made arrangements for bus transportation, Rep. Lawlor and Sen. McDonald cancelled the public hearing and claim the legislation will be shelved for the remainder of the 2009 Legislative Session. House and Senate Republican legislators then scheduled the informational hearing to allow people to share their thoughts on the proposal. Members of the majority party were invited to participate and some did so.

Lawmakers who moved the legislation forward in the wake of a scandal involving misuse of funds at a Darien parish said it would establish lay boards of directors to manage financial matters of local churches. Matters of fiscal oversight or complaints lodged with the board would be subject to investigation by the state Attorney General under the proposal.

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