Committees

I’m proud to have been appointed to the following legislative committees: Judiciary (Ranking Member), Appropriations and Regulation Review. Here is a bit of information about the types of matters each committee handles and Web links to more information about their daily affiars. I’ve also provided links to Web sites for the rest of the legislature’s committees. Don’t hesitate to call me if you have questions.

JUDICIARY  The Joint Committee on Judiciary has cognizance of all matters relating to courts, judicial procedures, criminal law, probate courts, probation, parole, wills, estates, adoption, divorce, bankruptcy, escheat, law libraries, deeds, mortgages, conveyancing, preservation of land records and other public documents, the law of business organizations, uniform laws, validations, authorizations to sue and to appeal, claims against the state, all judicial nominations, all nominations of workers’ compensation commissioners, and all matters relating to the Judicial Department, the Department of Correction and to the commission on Human Rights and Opportunities; all bills carrying civil penalties which exceed the sum of, or which may exceed in the aggregate, five thousand dollars; and all bills carrying criminal penalties, other than infractions, favorably reported by any other committee shall be referred to said committee, provided the committee’s consideration shall be limited to the criminal penalties established in such bills and shall not extend to their substantive provisions or purpose.

APPROPRIATIONS  The Appropriations Committee is one of the joint standing committees of the Connecticut General Assembly. It is composed of 55 members – 12 Senators and 43 Representatives.

The committee has cognizance of all matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. Other issues under the committee’s jurisdiction include matters relating to state employees’ salaries, benefits and retirement, teachers’ retirement and veterans’ pensions and collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards for all state employees.

REGULATION REVIEW  While the Legislative Regulation Review Committee has been in existence since 1972, it was a November 24, 1982 amendment to the State’s Constitution which provided the authority for the General Assembly to adopt the current structure of the committee.

It is the responsibility of the Legislative Regulation Review Committee to review regulations proposed by state agencies and approve them before regulations are implemented. This position was adopted since all regulation have the force of law, and it is important that regulations do not contravene the legislative intent, or conflict with current state or federal laws, or state or federal constitutions.

This joint bipartisan committee is made up of 14 members: 6 senators and 8 representatives divided equally by party. In keeping with the bipartisan nature of the committee the chairmanship of the committee changes every two years. Pairing either a Senate Democrat and a House Republican or a Senate Republican and a House Democrat as co-chairs.

Select Committee on Aging
Appropriations Committee
Banks Committee
Select Committee on Children
Commerce Committee
Education Committee
Energy and Technology Committee
Environment Committee
Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
Human Services Committee
Housing Committee
Insurance and Real Estate Committee
Internship Committee
Labor and Public Employees Committee
Judiciary Committee
Joint Committee on Legislative Managment
Planning and Development Committee
Program Review and Investigations Committee
Public Health Committee
Public Safety and Security Committee
Regulations Review Committee
Select Committtee on Veterans’ Affairs