Veterans medals distributed at ceremony

State Reps. Clark Chapin and Mary Ann Carson were on hand at New Milford High School on June 22 to take part in a ceremony where the Connecticut War Times Service Medal was distributed to 131 veterans.
 
To be eligible for the honor, a veteran must have served in time of war, as defined in state statutes, and also have been a resident of Connecticut at the time he or she was called to active duty for such service, or presently domiciled in this state on the date of such award.
 
Qualifying veterans can still apply for the medal by contacting the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (860) 616-3600. The application is also available by calling the office of Representatives Chapin and/or Carson at (800) 842-1423.

New domestic violence laws take effect July 1

Based on recommendations of the Domestic Violence Task Force, on which state Rep. Clark Chapin (R-New Milford) served, the legislature passed four bills to hopefully curb domestic violence in Connecticut. Each of these new laws is effective July 1, 2010.

“These four laws passed by the legislature are important efforts aimed at curbing and deterring domestic violence cases in Connecticut,” said Rep. Chapin. “I was honored to be appointed by the Speaker to the Domestic Violence Task Force, and I look forward to continuing work on this issue in future legislative sessions.”

Public Act 10-91 requires local and regional school boards, as part of the in-service training they must offer to certified employees, to include information on preventing teen dating violence and domestic violence as part of the health and mental health risk reduction education information they must provide. The law also requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to help and encourage the boards to include domestic violence and teen dating violence as a separate topic in their in-service training programs for certified professional employees. The act also allows boards to permit paraprofessionals and other noncertified employees to participate voluntarily in the in-service training programs for certified personnel.

Public Act 10-137, in part, requires a schedule for the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to make payments from the marriage license surcharge fund to organizations providing shelter services for domestic violence and rape victims.

A third law, Public Act 10-161, allows for domestic abuse victims or someone who reasonably believes it is necessary to vacate a dwelling due to a fear for the tenant’s or the tenant’s child’s personal safety, to terminate a lease or rental agreement without penalty, after giving 30 days notice to their landlord.

Public Act 10-144 allows the Judicial Branch to establish a pilot program for electronic monitoring of family violence offenders. The chief court administrator is required to apply for federal grants to fund the program. The law also enhances existing, and creates additional, employment protections for family violence victims, including allowing the use of leave time to deal with family violence issues.

The electronic monitoring provision was effective immediately, while the enhanced employment protections are effective on October 1, 2010.