Rep. Arthur O’Neill (R-69) and Senator Rob Kane (R-32) today joined other advocates for the elderly to hail the re-opening of the state’s Alzheimer’s respite care program to eligible new applicants.

“I have long been an advocate of programs to help seniors return to the community such as Money Follows the Person.  The programs we are talking about today are also important in helping seniors stay in their homes and communities.  Most seniors I have spoken to have no wish to be in a nursing.  In addition, seniors staying in their homes saves the state large amounts of money.  Home care is a win-win,” said Representative O’Neill.

“The Connecticut Statewide Respite Care Program offers a lifeline to those who care for their loved ones at home, and many of us have been working hard to re-open it ever since state budget constraints resulted in the program being closed to new applicants last spring. Making it more feasible for victims of this horrible disease to stay home for as long as possible is a blessing for many families. Also, providing respite services saves taxpayers’ money by preventing, or at least delaying, the need to provide more expensive nursing home care,” said Senator Kane.

 Senator Kane today held a press conference at the Southbury Senior Center to highlight the need for the Connecticut Statewide Respite Care Program and to announce that it has been re-opened to new applicants. Joining him were Representative Arthur O’Neill (R-69); Laurie Julian, Director of Public Policy, Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut Chapter; and Mary Ellen Girard, Respite Coordinator, Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging.

The Connecticut Statewide Respite Care Program is a joint partnership between the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter, the Area Agencies on Aging, and the state Department of Social Services, Aging Services Division. The program provides information, support, the development of an appropriate plan of care, and services for the individual with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. There is a maximum of three thousand five hundred dollars in services available per year to each applicant, and a maximum of 30 days of out of home respite care services (excluding Adult Day Care) available per year to each applicant. Applicants much meet eligibility requirements in order to qualify for services under this program. Advocates noted that, before the program was closed to new applicants in May 2009, requests for respite services had increased by 24 percent.  

“Too often, we find caregivers at the breaking point and the Alzheimer’s Respite Care Program provides them with much needed relief. Offering these services helps to protect the health of the caregivers, as well as save the state money by delaying the need for more expensive nursing home care,” said Laurie Julian, Director of Public Policy, Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut Chapter.

There are more than 70,000 individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s, or a related dementia, and 125,758 caregivers in Connecticut. Approximately 70 percent of those with Alzheimer’s are cared for at home by their families and friends.  More information about the Connecticut Statewide Respite Program is available for calling 1-800-994-9422, or by visiting the state Department of Social Services website at www.ct.gov/dss and clicking on the programs and services for elders tab

State Representative Arthur O’Neill (R-Southbury) leads the House of Representatives in the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the start of Tuesday’s session, May 4, 2010.

State Representative Arthur O’Neill (R-Southbury) joined colleagues Sen. Rob Kane, Rep. David Labriola and Rep. Tony D’Amelio in welcoming the Pomperaug High School Boy’s Dive and Swim Team to the State Capitol on Tuesday, May 4th.  The Pomperaug High School Boys Swim and Dive Team having won the Southwest Conference Championship, the State Class L Championship, and the State Open Championship for the 2010 season.

The team, lead by head coach Fran Pentino and assistant coaches Russ Davey and Jen Gowen, is undefeated in dual meet competition for the last four years over fifty-six meets and have been ranked number two in the nation each of the last three years.

Rep. Arthur O’Neill today co-sponsored legislation that would immediately stimulate Connecticut’s long-suffering job market by repealing the state’s Business Entity Tax and offering tax credits to companies that create full-time positions.

The proposal would also require that a Jobs Impact Statements accompany bills and amendments—a move addressing the business community’s complaint that the legislature habitually passes bills without considering how they affect employers.

Some Democrats spoke in favor of the proposal offered by Rep. O’Neill and his Republican colleagues or praised its content, yet the majority ultimately voted against it.

“The majority have said that there is a bi-partisan package on jobs we will all want to vote for before the end of this session,” said Rep. O’Neill. “Unfortunately, no one on the Republican side of the aisle has been invited to work on this ‘bi-partisan’ measure. It is disappointing that when it comes to passing bills that damage business or hurt the ability of employers to provide jobs the legislature acts very quickly. When it comes to helping those employers provide jobs, they need to study it for a year and a half.”

O’Neill and Republicans attached their pro-jobs proposal to a Democrat plan to create a commission to study how the state can generate more revenue—in other words, tax residents and businesses.

The Republican proposal was rejected 105-38.

The jobs-creation proposal included:

• Repeal of the Business Entity Tax on all businesses.
• Creates Small business revolving loan fund (direct loans only)–$25 million cap on the program.
• Job Creation Tax Credit Program—creates a tax credit for employers who employ 100 employees or less. Employers may receive a $4,800/per employee for every hire off of unemployment.
• Requires that Jobs Impact Statements accompany bills and amendments
• Create DECD ombudsman to help streamlining the permitting process for businesses.

Representative Arthur J. O’Neill (R-Southbury) voted today in favor of legislation aimed at increasing penalties on child pornographers.

The bill, HB 5030, An Act Concerning the Forfeiture of Money and Property Related to Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Traficking and the Possession of Child Pornography, was proposed by Governor M. Jodi Rell. Provisions of the bill allow for law enforcement to seize the property and wealth obtained from disseminating and distributing child pornography from those found guilty of such charges. The property would be sold at public auction under the Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services.

The measure passed unanimously out of the Judiciary Committee earlier this month on a motion by Rep. O’Neill who serves as the committee’s Ranking Member.

“Dealers in child pornography will be treated like dealers in illegal drugs under this bill,” said O’Neill. “Those found guilty will have their assets gained through dealing in child pornography seized by law enforcement and sold at auction. There are few crimes as heinous as child pornography. Unfortunately there [is a lot of illegal money in] ARE BIG PROFITS TO BE MADE FROM dealing in this kind of material. This bill will ensure that those found guilty of this crime will be unable to retain any benefit from their participation in such criminal acts.”

The bill now heads to the Senate for action there. This session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes midnight on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010.

“It has taken House Republicans many months of opposing repeated proposals of tax increases by the majority to finally get to the point where we have an agreement that does not raise taxes,” said Rep. O’Neill. “Over the course of the last few months we have seen proposals to raise taxes on income, estates, electric bills, hospitals and hotel rooms. We have also seen the Finance Committee approve a $500 million tax increase a mere nineteen days ago. This new deficit mitigation package does not enact any of the job-killing measures the majority has been advancing this session and doesn’t put the burden of balancing it squarely on the taxpayer.”

The deficit mitigation plan put forth today does not tackle the looming deficit that kicks in within the next 10 weeks but Republicans pledged to address that within the coming days.

O’Neill noted that he has opposed any version of proposed tax hikes on sick people who become hospitalized, insisting that could not be part of any deficit mitigation plan.

“Now that we have accomplished the task we should have many months ago concerning the current fiscal year, we need to immediately begin work on the 2011-2012 deficit,” said O’Neill. “This is work that must not be left to the next legislature and the next governor. I believe we can close that deficit with targeted spending reductions, delivering greater government efficiencies, and without tax increases.”

O’Neill pointed out that tax increases were clearly not an answer to the problem. “The legislature voted to raise taxes last September by $1.2 billion and we are still facing a $700 million deficit,” he said. “The people of Connecticut have done their part. It’s time for the members of the legislature to do theirs.”

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes at midnight on Wednesday, May 5.

The grants were made available by the East Hill Woods Fund Advisory Committee following an assessment of need done by the Connecticut Community Foundation. Representative O’Neill serves as a member of the East Hill Woods Fund Advisory Committee. A check was presented this afternoon to Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura.

“Across the region there are a high number of seniors with varied needs,” said Rep. O’Neill. “Many have simple needs and still others have greater needs due to their varying ages and health conditions. Some of the people hardest hit by these difficult economic times are our seniors and it is critical that we find ways to make sure that their needs are met.”

A new study on needs in the area is being conducted by Connecticut Community Foundation that will examine the available resources, service gaps, and ways to gain new funding sources.

Photo: Rep. Arthur J. O’Neill (R-Southbury) presents a grant from the East Hill Woods Advisory Committee to Mayor Michael Jarjura of Waterbury.

The first bill, RB 5533, A Act Concerning Sexting makes the transmission by electronic device of sexually explicit depictions of subjects between the ages of thirteen and eighteen by someone in the same age range to someone else also between thirteen and eighteen a class A misdemeanor. Under previous law, teens who sent such images to one another or “sexted” each other would be guilty of possession and dissemination of child pornography which carries stiff penalties including required registration on the state’s sex offender registry.

“Teens who foolishly send such images to one another will still be guilty of a crime,” said Representative O’Neill. “However, there is a tremendous distinction between teens who send each other images of themselves, and pedophiles and predators. In this respect, the law needed to catch up with technology and assign a more appropriate penalty for the offense.”

The other bill, HB 5030, An Act Concerning the Forfeiture of Money and Property Related to Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Traficking and the Possession of Child Pornography, was proposed by Governor M. Jodi Rell. Provisions of the bill allow for law enforcement to seize the property and wealth obtained from disseminating and distributing child pornography from those found guilty of such charges. The property would be sold at public auction under the Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services.

“This measure handles dealers in child pornography in much the same way the law currently handles drug dealers,” said O’Neill. “Those who are found guilty will have their ill-gotten gains taken by law enforcement and sold at auction. Child pornography is a particularly heinous crime and the gains made from this criminal enterprise are unfortunately quite lucrative, just as in the illegal drug trade. This bill will ensure that those found guilty of this crime will be unable to retain any benefit from their participation in such criminal acts.”

Both bills now head to the full House of Representatives for action there. This session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes midnight on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010.

This week the legislature’s Regulations Review Committee approved departmental regulations on a motion by Rep. Arthur O’Neill for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station that are designed to lessen the impact of pests such as the Asian Longhorn Beetle and the Emerald Ash Borer which present dangers to economically important plants.

Both pests are relatively new to the United States and cause economic harm and environmental deterioration.

The purpose of the measure is to suppress, control or eradicate infestations of Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer in regulated areas by prohibiting or restricting the movement of these insect pests and infested nursery stock, cut logs, firewood or other regulated articles.

These two pests destroy a wide range of hardwood tree species and can produce a heavy economic and ecological impact.

“There is a significant potential for harm by these invasive pest species,” said Rep. Arthur O’Neill (R-Southbury), member of the Regulations Review Committee. “They place in jeopardy wood used in the nursery trade, building material production, and furniture construction just to name a few. There is also a threat of significant impact to our state parks and forest land which could jeopardize the quality of life in this state and its scenic quality. These regulations will improve our ability in Connecticut to prevent a large-scale infestation from taking place which could cause significant harm.”

Every ten years the United States Census provides a unique opportunity for scammers and con artists to elicit your personal information for criminal purposes.  Representative Arthur O’Neill is joining with Senator Rob Kane and Jerry Farrell, Commissioner of the State Department of Consumer Protection, to provide a forum on how you can protect yourself from scam artists posing as Census takers.

The event will be held on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM in the Meeting House Music Room at Heritage Village.  For more details call Rep. O’Neill’s office at 1-800-842-1423.