The recent drowning deaths of two students in high school swim classes prompted Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R-112) and her colleagues in the legislature to unanimously pass bipartisan legislation to strengthen regulations for supervision at all swimming pools used by schools.

H.B. 5113: An Act Concerning Pool Safety at Public Schools requires all swimming pools used by schools to have a qualified swimming coach or instructor and at least one other certified person present to supervise the pool during use.  Coaches and instructors are required to be certified as life guards by a recognized national organization, be certified in CPR, and complete a first aid course on the use of automatic external defibrillators.

“Knowing how difficult it is for one person to monitor an entire class, especially in an environment like a pool where conditions can change rapidly, I know this legislation will help keep our children safe,” Rep. Hovey said. “Learning to swim is an essential skill and one I’m happy many of our schools teach, but having an extra set of eyes monitoring swimmers will decrease potential risks and make swim classes more enjoyable and beneficial for students.”

The bill also requires local and regional boards of education to develop a pool safety plan by July 1, 2014, and update it annually prior to the commencement of each school year.

State Representative DebraLee Hovey (R-112) defended victim’s rights and joined her legislative colleagues to unanimously pass a bill to further protect victims of sexual assault.

H.B. 6641 (PA 13-47) – An Act Concerning the Sexual Assault of a Person Who is Physically Helpless or Whose Ability to Consent is Otherwise Impaired enhances existing law to provide that sexual intercourse or sexual contact with a person, whose ability to resist or communicate consent is substantially impaired because of such person’s mental or physical condition, constitutes the offense of sexual assault.

“By enhancing this law we’re sending an even stronger message to those who try to take advantage of people who can’t physically speak for, or defend, themselves,” Rep. Hovey said. “Victims of sexual assault already have incredible pain and mental anguish to deal with without worrying whether their attacker will be prosecuted strongly enough, this law protects victims and punishes criminals.”

According to state statute, a person is guilty of sexual assault when such person engages in sexual intercourse with another person who is thirteen years of age or older but under sixteen years of age and the other party is more than three years older, or such other person is impaired because of mental disability or disease to the extent that such other person is unable to consent to such sexual intercourse.  Impaired because of mental disability or disease means that a person suffers from a mental disability or disease which renders such person incapable of appraising the nature of such person’s conduct.

“Mentally incapacitated” is defined as a person rendered temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling such person’s conduct owing to the influence of a drug or intoxicating substance administered to such person without such person’s consent, or owing to any other act committed upon such person without such person’s consent.

“Physically helpless” means that a person is unconsciousor for any other reason, is physically unable to resist an act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact or to communicate unwillingness to an act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact.

State Representative DebraLee Hovey (R-112) yesterday took a stand against perpetuating and legalizing barbaric violence in our society and voted against a bill to allow Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting in Connecticut.

During a short but spirited debate on the House floor Rep. Hovey opposed allowing MMA competition in Connecticut because of the dangerous messages it sends to the youth of our state, among others.

“I believe to pass a rule to regulate such an activity is to also endorse the activity as acceptable and I will not be part of that,” Rep. Hovey said.  “Following the tragic events of the past year across this country, and certainly in my district, I feel even more strongly that we must ‘walk the walk’ and not just ‘talk the talk’ when it comes to violence in our state. It’s hypocritical for those who voted in favor of gun control regulations to turn around and allow a bloodsport like MMA to take place here.”

H.B. 5277- An Act Concerning Mixed Martial Arts – would legalize amateur and professional mixed martial arts (MMA), exempting it from the ban on prize fights, and would generally subject MMA matches to the same laws that govern professional boxing, including regulation by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), licensing, taxing, match rules, condition of fighters, age limits, and violations and penalties.

The bill defines “MMA” as unarmed combat involving techniques from different martial arts disciplines, including grappling, kicking, jujitsu, and striking.

“Getting into a cage with the sole intention of beating the heck out of each other until your opponent is so injured they can’t continue is barbaric and is the human equivalent of cock fighting,” Rep. Hovey said. “Horrific injuries, including concussion and traumatic brain injury, can happen and have long-term effects I’m afraid few people truly consider before entering the ring.”

“Children also have a difficult time distinguishing between violent sports and what’s socially acceptable outside an arena and exposing them to this type of violent fighting sets a bad example.  With this legislation we’re glorifying violence from the street. If we expect to have a tolerant society we must work to change the culture of violence.”

State Representative DebraLee Hovey (R-Monroe, Newtown) today stood in defense of the families of Sandy Hook and voted for an historic gun control bill that expands the state’s assault weapons ban, bans large capacity ammunition magazines, expands criminal background checks for all gun purchases and establishes a statewide gun offender registry.

SB 1160 (E-Cert): An Act Concerning Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety passed by a vote of 105 to 44 with two members absent.

“The law we passed tonight strikes a very difficult balance between the second amendment right to bear arms and the protection of our citizens that we as a state must provide,” Rep. Hovey said.  “It’s unfortunate that honest, law abiding gun owners will have to jump through so many hoops but in response to the victims and families of my district who were personally affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy I had no option but to vote yes. The rhetoric of the two opposing positions has pitted neighbor against neighbor.  Hopefully, now the community will be able to begin to heal.”

Some highlights of the new legislation:

• Establishes a dangerous weapon offender registry.
• Requires “universal background checks” on the sale of all firearms.
• Significantly expands the Connecticut Assault Weapons Ban.
• Immediately bans the sale or purchase of large capacity magazines.
• Requires registration of large capacity magazines currently in possession.
• Requires a pistol permit, pistol eligibility certificate or the newly created long gun eligibility certificate to purchase any long gun or ammunition.
• Expands Connecticut’s safe storage law.
• Increases penalties for firearms trafficking and illegal possession offenses.

There is no confiscation of firearms or magazines already owned.

In addition to the gun safety measures, the new law also addresses mental health services and school security and establishes important criteria, including, but not limited to:

• Requiring DMHAS to administer a mental health training program to teach people to recognize the signs of mental illness in children and young adults.
• Allows boards of education to offer in-service mental health training.
• Creates a task force to conduct a comprehensive study of Connecticut’s mental health system with a focus on 16-25-year-olds.
• Expands DMHAS’s Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT) program to three additional locations to provide recovery-oriented treatment and support.
• Establishes a School Safety Infrastructure Council to develop safety standards for school building projects
• Reauthorizes the school security infrastructure competitive grant program to reimburse towns for approved school safety upgrades.
• Requires school security and safety plans be developed at each school.
• Requires school climate committees established by bullying law to investigate instances of disturbing and threatening behavior reported to it.

“Despite the many positives of this legislation I am disappointed there is not mandated reporting for mental health issues and I remain concerned that the Governor’s budget did not reallocate monies to go into programs that really can make a difference,” Rep. Hovey said. “Hopefully, this is a good first step to help Connecticut residents gain access to much-needed services.”

“Since the tragedy the State has been immobilized by the gun issue which has been very divisive in the community and has not brought out the best in some people, but ‘LOVE’ is not a platitude on a 9” X 12” poster, it’s in our hearts and expressed by our day-to-day actions.”

I wanted to bring your attention to a new energy website launched by the state.

The site -  http://www.ctenergyinfo.com/ – provides consumers with resources to help:
• Reduce energy consumption and cost
• Improve the environment
• Promote economic development and energy security
For more information on consumer energy issues, call Connecticut’s statewide toll free energy information line, 877-WISE USE (947-3873), which connects you to an energy professional weekdays during normal business hours.

State Representative DebraLee Hovey today reminded everyone to be more aware of the people in their lives who might be in need of mental health services but too sick or too proud to ask for help.

Aside from the recent work the legislature’s bipartisan task force began in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy there has been little discussion on mental health or threat assessment and how those two factors play against each other with regard to school attacks.

Recently, Marisa Dr. Randazzo of SIGMA Threat Management Associates, presented her work on threat assessment to a meeting at the Legislative Office Building.  Dr. Randazzo says we can, through threat assessment, possibly prevent mass shootings and that research has shown these types of events are not impulsive acts. Instead, they are planned, with most attackers having concerned others prior to the attack. Many of these attackers have been bullied or felt they had been persecuted unfairly, had access to weapons, and in many cases others were aware of their plans or involved in some capacity.

“By opening our eyes and treating our concerns or any suspected threats appropriately we can begin to make a difference going forward,” Rep. Hovey said. “Getting people to trust their instincts and report suspicious behavior, statements or acts we can hopefully stop these types of tragedies in the future.”

Rep. Hovey continued, “Everyone has heard the slogan ‘If you see something, say something’ with regard to terrorism, well, if we use a similar mindset with people exhibiting questionable or threatening behavior or showing signs of distress perhaps we can prevent another tragedy.”

One of the options Dr. Randazzo suggested would be to create school-based threat assessment teams to give students, teachers and parents a place to air their concerns confidentially.  These teams would be able to gather any relevant information, assess the potential of any threat and create an individualized plan to address those concerns.  Those plans could include emergency psychiatric help, outpatient services, mentoring, academic accommodations, suspension or expulsion, and parental or law enforcement involvement among other things.

“Obviously, this is just the beginning of a long conversation we, as a state, need to have, but together, we can make a difference if we assess each situation and act on complaints or concerns,” Rep. Hovey said. “We must empower coworkers, classmates, friends and family who suspect a threat to come forward if we hope to start changing the mindset that there’s nothing we can do. We must view ourselves as frontline activists to prevent this type of thing from happening again.”

On Saturday State Reps. DebraLee Hovey (R-112), Dan Carter (R-2) and Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) joined Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra for the Sandy Hook Run for the Families. Proceeds from the 5 kilometer race, which spanned downtown Hartford, totaled over $430,000 and will be donated to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund aimed at providing support services to families who have been affected. Prior to cheering on the 15,000 runners, the legislators met with victims’ families and first responders at the Aetna headquarters to express their support.

Reps. Carter, Bolinsky and Hovey; Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra; Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra; first responders and families of victims meet at Aetna headquarters.

State Representative DebraLee Hovey (R-112) today joined fellow environmentally concerned legislators and adopted the Paugussett State Forest in Newtown during the “Friends of CT State Parks Day” event at the Capitol.

“The Paugussett is an incredible place for the residents of Newtown and the surrounding area to spend time enjoying the wonders of nature by riding horseback, hiking, bird watching or just relaxing,” Rep. Hovey said. “Even if it’s not in the Paugussett Forest I hope more people take advantage of the coming warmer temperatures and spend some time outdoors.  I also want to remind everyone to share the trails with all users.”

Legislators who “Adopt A Park” affirm their commitment to do the following:

• Acknowledge the State Park or Parks in their District;
• Visit the State Park(s) to understand its assets and needs;
• Work with existing “Friends of Park” organization or with the CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to launch an annual event (walk, clean-up, etc.) in 2013; and
• Publicize their Park(s) and help advocate for the needs of the State Park system.

Legislators who Adopt are also included on an Honor Roll that the Friends of CT State Parks and CFPA will keep up-to-date and display online.

2013 is the 100 year anniversary of the State Park System, which has grown to include 107 State Parks including iconic places such as Gillette Castle State Park, Hammonasset and Rocky Neck Beach State Parks, Harkness Memorial State Park, Sleeping Giant State Park, Talcott Mountain State Park and more.

A report in the NY Daily News published Sunday, March 17^th, provided chilling details from a “law enforcement veteran” present at the International Association of Police Chiefs and Colonels meeting in New Orleans where Col. Danny Stebbins released sensitive information related to the Sandy Hook shooting.  Stebbins spoke about a detailed spreadsheet, referred to as a score sheet, allegedly compiled by the gunman before the massacre.

“In the strongest terms I reject the explanation from the State Police and Col. Danny Stebbins related to this incredibly insensitive release of information,” Rep. Hovey said.  “The families and victims of this horrific act deserve the respect to be notified in advance of any and all releases of information.  The fact Col. Stebbins chose to share details with a conference before families were notified and before any official findings have been released shows incredibly poor judgment and is unconscionable.”

“Delaying release of important information to those affected is just plain wrong,” Rep. Hovey said. “The people of Newtown and the lawmakers on the bipartisan Task Force who are crafting legislation on gun control, mental health and school security- legislation that will affect the entire state- must have access to all of the official facts.  The first time they see this should not be in the newspaper.”

After several news stories appeared on the matter, the Connecticut State Police released a statement acknowledging the incident indeed took place and that no further information would be forthcoming until the official report is completed.  The statement said the official report could still be months away.

State Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R-112) spoke before more than 150 women and elected leaders at “Women’s Day at the Capitol,” hosted annually by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW).  The day-long forum was aimed at bringing the community together with policy leaders to learn about cutting-edge issues affecting women and families. Women’s Day also featured messages from Connecticut’s Constitutional Officers; remarks from former Editor-in-Chief of Ms. Magazine and Essence, Marcia Ann Gillespie; and highlighted the winners of the Young Women’s Leadership Program’s annual essay contest.