The bill would allow the Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequots to enter into a development agreement with one host community.
A bill that creates a multi-step process for possibly opening a new tribal casino in Connecticut is heading to the governor, among other bills awaiting action at the Capitol.
The House of Representatives voted 88 to 55 in favor of the legislationearly Friday. The bill previously cleared the Senate.
The measure is a retooled version of a bill which would have allowed the tribes that own Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resorts Casinos to open up to three casinos to help combat out-of-state gambling competition.
The Attorney General warned last month that legislation giving tribes exclusive rights to a new casino could prompt legal challenges, telling legislators in a six-page memo:
In light of this uncertainty and the attendant risks, the legislature should carefully weigh the anticipated benefits of the proposed legislation against the risks it poses to the current arrangements.
This new bill allows the Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequots to enter into a development agreement with one host community. That deal would need legislative approval.
Rep. Stephen Dargan said the bill shows Connecticut wants to protect jobs in southeastern Connecticut. Opponents questioned that thinking.
"I'm not convinced of the rosy predictions of jobs that I have heard, other than some construction jobs,'' said Rep. Tami Zawistowski, who represents East Granby, Suffield, and Windsor, during debate. "I don't see this as a growth industry for this area.''
Compromise Election Reform Bill Clears Senate
The Connecticut Senate passed a bill that attempts to professionalize the state's election system. The bill marks a compromise reached between state lawmakers, the Secretary of State's Office, town clerks, and the locally-elected registrars of voters, who run the state's elections. The bill awaits House action.
Under the proposal, the Secretary of the State Denise Merrill would create a new training and certification program for the 339 registrars. If the secretary believes a local registrar has engaged in misconduct or is incompetent, there is a process in the bill to remove the registrar from office.
House Votes to Change Public Financing Rules
Connecticut's public campaign financing program faces some major changes under a bill that has cleared the House of Representatives. The Democratic-controlled chamber approved the bill on a bipartisan vote of 134 to 12.
Much of the language was included in a proposal offered in January by minority Republicans to close what they called loopholes in the current campaign financing laws. The bill prevents campaign treasurers from paying a family member of a candidate participating in the financing program, or any entity owned by that family member, more than $1,000.
It also caps organizational expenses state parties can spend on behalf of participating candidates, eliminates grants for unopposed candidates and reduces grants to candidates -- including governor -- by 25 percent.
Speaking in favor of an amendment, Republican Richard Smith said the original intent of the clean elections program was good, but the system has eroded over the years.
"We have dirty money continually coming in to fund campaigns," Smith said. "We have attack ads portraying all of us here in the chamber in negative ways. And the public, Madam Speaker, ultimately is unsatisfied with the way we conduct ourselves."
The bill moves to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.
Bill Exempts Connecticut High School Juniors From SBAC Test
Connecticut high school juniors may no longer have to take the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium standardized test. The Senate on Thursday voted 33 to three to relieve eleventh graders from having to take Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium test. Instead, they'd take a nationally recognized college readiness exam, such as the SAT.
The proposal comes after unionized teachers rallied at the state Capitol, urging lawmakers to reduce the amount of standardized testing in schools, saying students are being overwhelmed.
In a statement, legislative leaders cited a May survey of K-12 teachers in Connecticut, in which over 96 percent agreed with the statement, "I generally view the SBAC as an obstacle for my students to overcome."
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said the legislation will allow students to "focus on their classes and what really matters for their futures."
About 85 percent of Connecticut students take the SAT. Lawmakers said they hope this bill might inspire the other 15 percent to pursue college. There are currently about 40,000 eleventh-grade students in Connecticut.
Bill Bars Connecticut Schools From Expelling Young Students
The House of Representatives on Thursday voted in favor legislation barring out-of-school suspensions and expulsions of students in pre-school through second grade. The bill previously cleared the Senate, and now heads to the governor's desk.
The bill creates some exceptions. For example, young children can be suspended if they exhibit conduct that's violent or sexual in nature and endangers others. Child rights groups support the legislation.
State Child Advocate Sarah Eagan points to a recent state Department of Education report that determined more than 1,200 children under the age of seven were suspended during the last school year. Eagan said there are alternative strategies available to reduce the need for suspensions.
Bill Requires Connecticut Labs to Conduct Hair Follicle Test
A bill that would require clinical laboratories in Connecticut to conduct hair follicle drug tests ordered by medical personnel is moving to the governor's desk. The House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the bill, which previously cleared the Senate.
Under current law, only employers or court orders can obtain this type of test.
The legislation stems from the 2014 death of 17-year-old Kyle Cruz. His father, Jim Cruz, tried unsuccessfully to secure a hair follicle drug test after the teen began exhibiting sudden, disturbing behavior. Democratic Sen. Carlo Leone said the Stamford father was repeatedly turned away from a testing center despite having a doctor's authorization for the test. Kyle Cruz committed suicide shortly afterward.
Hair follicle tests can analyze drug use over the past 90 days, while typical urine tests can only detect use in the previous two to three days. Under the bill, clinical labs would have to administer the tests if they're deemed necessary by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.
Nicole Wetsman and Tucker Ives contributed to this report, which includes information from The Associated Press.
