State Representative Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) today was honored by the Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association for her leadership and support during the 2013 legislative session.

Rep. Rebimbas was recognized during a presentation as part of the Association’s regular business meeting on Wednesday, June 12 at the Four Points Sheraton in Meriden.

“I’m honored to be recognized for working on behalf of common sense legislation surrounding professional medical services,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “Legislation like H.B. 6445 that will make it easier for patients to receive multiple services in the same office is helpful, saves time and reduces stress is a good thing for the people of Connecticut.”

The CPMA said it appreciated her leadership and support on important bills to improve patient access to Podiatric services, especially:  HB 6445, AN ACT CONCERNING SERVICES THAT MAY BE PROVIDED BY PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS, which allows physicians and podiatrists to jointly practice as a professional corporation.

The Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) is an organization dedicated to serving its membership through education, public awareness, and government representation. It also provides representation to healthcare provider communities-at-large, healthcare reimbursement agencies, and national podiatric organizations.

The CT Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) is the state’s professional society of podiatrists and was behind two pieces of legislation passed this year:

• HB 6445, AN ACT CONCERNING SERVICES THAT MAY BE PROVIDED BY PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS.  This legislation allows physicians and podiatrists to jointly practice as a professional corporation.
• HB 5443, An Act Requiring Podiatrists to be Board Qualified –did not, in and of itself, get passed.  However, language of HB 5443 was incorporated into HB 6389 with a “strike-all” amendment, and HB 6389 passed both chambers.  Under the new law, a Board Qualified Podiatrist may apply for and receive the permit to perform advanced ankle and rearfoot constructive surgeries.  Prior law required a Podiatrist to be Board Certified before they could apply.

State Representatives Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) and David K. Labriola (R-131) today supported a bill to realize substantial cost savings by allowing school building projects to conform to the standard building code for roof construction.

S.B. 929 An Act Concerning Certain Functions and Operations of the Department of Construction Services and Regulating Special Effects Displays makes changes affecting  Department of Construction Services (DCS) operations and regulation of special effects displays and roof pitch on school buildings.

With regard to roof pitch, the bill changes the minimum roof pitch required on school roofs for them to be eligible for a state reimbursement from ½ inch per foot to the standard in the State Building Code, which is currently ¼ inch per foot. Current law authorizes the ¼ inch pitch in some circumstances.

“By allowing use of the industry standard building code for roof construction Naugatuck will potentially save more than $800,000 during renovation of the Maple Hill school roof,” Rep. Rebimbas said.

“This legislation provides substantial savings for school districts across the state, including Naugatuck, without sacrificing a school’s structural integrity or forcing districts to undertake time-consuming and expensive rebuilding projects to comply with the old law,” Rep. Labriola said.

Under current law, a school roof pitch must be at least ½ inch per foot to be eligible for state reimbursement. But the DCS commissioner may allow ¼ inch per foot for a total roof replacement if the reduction will not impede drainage or cause pooling of water that may leak into the building to a greater degree than that of a roof with a minimum ½ inch per foot, the cost of the ½ inch pitch would be substantially greater or take substantially longer, and the building would have to be substantially rebuilt to support a ½ inch pitch.

The bill changes the minimum roof pitch to the standard used in the State Building Code, which is ¼ inch per foot.

“I am happy anytime we can help a school district responsibly save money,” Rep. Rebimbas said.

Recently I highlighted specific activities happening across the state surrounding  Connecticut Trails Day Weekend. However, I wanted to follow up to alert you to more exciting places to see and things to do in Naugatuck this weekend.

If you’re looking for a quiet place to enjoy nature you can head over to Gunntown Passive Park and Nature Preserve located at 60 Gunntown Rd. and enjoy a hike or picnic. Of course, we also have Whittemore Glen State Park in Naugatuck, or the Naugatuck State Forest, which spans the towns of Naugatuck, Oxford, and Beacon Falls.

Gunntown Park is a public park maintained by the Borough of Naugatuck Parks and Recreation Department and features a nature trail, meadows, a butterfly garden and more in a beautiful conservation area.  It is open to the public and used frequently for educational and recreational community activities.   It is also part of the CT Freedom Trail.

If staying closer to downtown is more your style, please stop by the green from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. this Sunday for Earth Day festivities.

Then, take a short walk down toward the Naugatuck River for DuckDay 2013 events.

Duck Day 2013 will feature a Halloween costume contest with judging between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., a dunk tank, and a corporate duck race at 12 noon.

The highlight event of the day is the Duck Race which goes off promptly at 2 p.m. when thousands of colorful ducks are dropped off the Whittemore Bridge to race their way down the river.
You can purchase tickets or ducks between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for your chance to win the $5,000 grand prize.

For more information please visit www.duckday.org

State Representative Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70), who helped spearhead the effort to protect innocent victims of human and sex trafficking, today joined a unanimous legislature and passed historic and bipartisan legislation that will serve as a model for the country.

H.B. 5666 An Act Concerning the Forfeiture of Moneys and Property Derived from Human or Sex Trafficking stiffens penalties and authorizes the forfeiture of money and property used in or obtained or derived from the commission of crimes involving human and sex trafficking among other things. This final legislation is a combination of three separate bills each aimed at defending women from predators and prosecuting those who commit such heinous acts.

“Today we took an historic step and passed strong legislation to protect vulnerable, innocent women from sex trafficking by removing the financial gain aspect for those who perpetrate such horrendous crimes whether it’s for labor purposes or the sex industry,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “This legislation strengthens and expands the offenses of human and sex trafficking and prostitution, hits criminals in the wallet where they fear it most, and sets a precedent for the rest of the country to follow.”

During testimony, Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) reported that since 2008 approximately 100 minor children in Connecticut have been positively identified as victims of sex trafficking.  Of those, 98 percent have been involved with child welfare services in some way.

According to statistics provided by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, the Trafficking in Persons Council and other non-governmental agencies have provided services to 170 victims of human trafficking, and conducted 227 educational and public awareness trainings for 12,285 people in Connecticut.

The new legislation, among other things, amends current state law so all money or property used, or intended for use; proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly; property derived from the proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, from any sale or exchange; all property used or intended for use, in any manner or part, to commit or facilitate the commission of a violation for financial gain of the Connecticut general statutes 53a-82, 53a-86 and 53a-192a regarding prostitution or trafficking would be surrendered.

During the committee process all 55 of Connecticut’s female legislators from both sides of the aisle and both the House and Senate, co-sponsored the initiatives passed today.

“Once again Connecticut chose to stand up to criminals and protect the vulnerable and innocent victims in our society by passing important legislation and I am honored to be a part of it,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “I want to make it clear that the sex trafficking business in Connecticut is closed for good.”

State Representative Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) today reminded Connecticut residents that this weekend is Connecticut Trails Day Weekend and nearly every town and every trail in Connecticut is ready for you.
There are more than 500 miles of trails in Connecticut, and this weekend, 259 of the state’s trails in 152 towns will be hosting outdoor activities for everyone.

“With the summer season upon us now is a great time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of one of Connecticut’s wonderful state parks,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “Whether you stay local and visit the Whittemore Glen State Park in Naugatuck, or the Naugatuck State Forest, which spans the towns of Naugatuck, Oxford, and Beacon Falls, or venture out of the Borough and explore one of the other great natural spaces Connecticut has to offer you’ll find fun things to do while experiencing the natural beauty of our state.”

From hiking to biking; running to horseback riding; educational walks; and bird watching to kayaking or canoeing, our state trails have it all. Many of these events are guided by knowledgeable volunteers from local hiking clubs, parks and recreation departments, state agencies, conservation organizations, historic groups, education programs, and land trusts.

For a listing of statewide activities please go to: http://www.ctwoodlands.org/CT-TrailsDayWeekend2013

The American Hiking Society, which founded National Trails Day, is marking the country’s largest celebration of trails during the 100th anniversary of Connecticut’s state parks and forests system.  For more info please visit:  http://www.americanhiking.org/national-trails-day/

During a kick-off event to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Connecticut’s State Park system earlier this year Rep. Rebimbas “adopted” both the Whittemore Glen State Park and the Naugatuck State Forest.

2013 is the 100 year anniversary of the Connecticut 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.

It’s a fact that state spending is out of control and Connecticut is facing a $3 billion budget deficit over the next two years.  Yet, the two budgets proposed by the Democrats and Governor Malloy include spending increases of roughly 10%.

I took an oath as your Representative in Hartford to do everything in my power to make Connecticut a better place to live and do business, and that means I will oppose unnecessary state spending increases that hit you squarely in the wallet with fee and tax increases.

It’s once again unfortunate that the Democratic Majority has not allowed the Republican minority into the room during budget negotiations. This is not the democratic process our state deserves.

At this time the only thing obstructing these big-spending proposals is Connecticut’s constitutional spending cap. The spending cap, enacted in 1992 with the state income tax, was designed as a tool to help slow future spending.

Unfortunately, the spending cap has not stopped state spending, which has increased 153% since the cap was instituted.  Incredibly, state spending is growing at faster rate than both inflation rate and population growth.

We all know it’s wrong to spend money you don’t have, especially in a down economy. And your family, like mine, has probably had to cut back and tighten the belt on household spending.  There’s no reason the state shouldn’t do the same.

Some will say legislative Republicans haven’t proposed an alternative budget this year, and they’re right.  For the past six years we have proposed alternative budgets- always fully vetted by the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis- only to be ignored by the Majority Party.

This year, we made a conscious decision to deliver our message and proposals differently and to try to make changes by offering alternatives during the process. With less than 2 weeks left in the legislative session we still haven’t seen a final proposed budget.

Instead, political operatives hurl insults in an effort to distract the public from the real issues surrounding the budget.

Despite tremendous political pressure there are officials who reject the idea of modifying the spending cap or using accounting gimmicks to bring a budget into balance. They also stand firmly behind having a verifiable and balanced budget.  The next two weeks are a critical time in this process and I implore you to contact your elected state officials, both Senator and State Representative, and tell them to do what’s right for Connecticut, vote no on spending cap changes and balance the budget without gimmicks.

State Representative Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) joined a unanimous legislature and voted to strengthen current state law to further protect vulnerable 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.

“I am proud to stand up for victim’s rights and vote to strengthen state laws to further protect vulnerable, innocent victims who are sexually assaulted,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “People who take advantage of their positions of power and commit heinous acts on impaired individuals must be punished and this law sends a firm message that Connecticut will not tolerate sexual abuses. This law protects those who don’t readily have the ability to protect themselves.”

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 unconscious 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 Representatives Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131) today joined their House colleagues and voted unanimously to allow school boards to award diplomas to Vietnam War Era veterans who were unable to complete high school due to military service.

“The men and women who put their civilian lives on hold and donned a uniform to protect our country deserve our thanks and respect and this legislation honors their commitment and sacrifice,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “I’m sure our school boards will see fit to grant diplomas to all qualified veterans.”

“We must honor the sacrifices that Vietnam era veterans made on our behalf, and allowing them to receive their high school diploma is the right thing to do,” Rep. Labriola said.

S.B. 386- An Act Concerning Honorary Diplomas for Vietnam Veterans  allows local and regional school boards to award high school diplomas to Vietnam era veterans who left high school before graduating for military service. Current state law already allows boards to do this for World War II and Korean War veterans but this bill covers honorably or generally discharged veterans who served actively from February 28, 1961 to July 1, 1975 in the U. S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Air Force or any of their reserve components, including the Connecticut National Guard.

The unanimous vote in the House followed a unanimous vote in the Senate.

CT Beer Week 2013 will take place from May 11-18, 2013. The week is a collaboration of events hosted by brewers, wholesalers, retailers and restaurants throughout Connecticut.

The 2013 CT Beer Week is focused around the “Brew & Buy Local” campaign created by the Connecticut beer industry to celebrate the vibrant beer industry in Connecticut. The campaign’s message is simple: from breweries to restaurants, our industry produces fabulous products and contributes a significant amount to the local economy. So, when you are making a choice, we ask you to choose to support local Connecticut companies.

The mission of Connecticut Beer Week is to inform policy makers of the significant contribution the three-tier system makes to Connecticut’s economy. This week long, statewide event was created to celebrate the vibrant beer industry in Connecticut.

The campaign’s message is simple: from breweries to restaurants, our industry produces fabulous products and contributes a significant amount to the local economy. So, when you are making a choice, we ask you to choose to support local Connecticut companies. Together we’re brewing something good for Connecticut.

Our newly introduced “Brew & Buy Local” campaign will promote all segments of the industry responsible for the safe distribution and sale of beer.

For More Information go to  ctbeerweek.com